After weeks of heavy rain overwhelming already swollen rivers, two dams in Brazil’s Bahia state burst and flooded surrounding towns.
In the town of Itabuna, residents could be seen using inflatable rafts and canoes to deliver supplies to neighbours.
The rains have caused at least 18 deaths in Bahia since the beginning of November and thousands of people have been moved from some of the 67 towns facing further flooding.
Itambe is an agricultural region in southern Bahia located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) inland from the coastal city of Ilheus.
The mayor of Vitoria da Consquista, Sheila Lemos, said all residents close to the river had been evacuated.
In a posting on the city’s website, Lemos said the flooding threatened to cut off the BR-116 highway, a major truck route between northeastern and southern Brazil.
Bahia Governor Rui Castro said at least 300 people have been evacuated from each of some 20 towns in the state that were hit by floods caused by heavy rainfall for almost two months.
The rains have caused 17 deaths in Bahia since the beginning of November, and 66 towns are facing emergency situations, civil defense officials said.
In the state capital of Salvador, weather officials said December rainfall has been six times greater than the average.
