During a storm in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, the family took refuge in the bathroom, the only room that withstood the force of the wind.
Among the rubble and silence that dominated the neighborhood of Kohabar, V Rio Bonito do IguaçuIn Paraná, a couple returned this Sunday, the 9th of this month, to the place where the house they lived in just three days ago was located. The property, rented shortly before The hurricane that destroyed the city, It was completely destroyed.
In the photos recorded on the day of the move, the scenario was different: a simple but organized house, its furniture ready to be put in place, and the beginning of a new phase. Today everything was destroyed, and all that remained was the ruins.
During the storm, the family took refuge in the bathroom, the only room that could withstand the force of the wind. This is where they stayed until they were rescued. “We only thought about surviving, we didn’t have time to do anything,” said Ronaldo Silva, still emotional.
Shortly after the hurricane, he and his wife, Ludisia dos Santos, were able to find one of their three pet cats, Esmeralda, who had been frightened and came out unharmed. The next day, they returned and found her little brother, Bob, hiding in the rubble.
Since the night of the disaster, the family has been sheltered in the Casa de Líderes of the Catholic Church in Laranjeiras do Sul.
This Sunday, Ronaldo and Ludisia returned to the place again in search of Amora, the older cat and the mother of the other two cats. But then the two dogs, Tufao and Negau, appeared, looking happy to see their owners.
With hope and care, the couple searched the remains of the earth and summoned the cat among the rubble. One resident said: “We still think we will find things. They always come home.”
In the midst of loss, reuniting with the animals became a sign of hope, a small comfort in the face of the enormity of the tragedy.
Early in the evening of Friday the 7th, a tornado with speeds exceeding 250 km/h – It has been identified as the most destructive in the country’s modern history– Destroying a large part of the city, killing at least six people, More than 800 injured And the path of destruction.
According to Civil Defense, about four thousand people from the city, which has a population of 13 thousand people, were affected directly or indirectly by the hurricane. This is practically the total urban population who suffered from destroyed or roofless homes, or from a lack of electricity, water, and supplies.
Businesses also suffered damage, adding to the housing drama and fear for the future of jobs and the city’s financial viability.
City council staff, social movements, universities, volunteers from Rio Bonito and surrounding municipalities, fire brigades, civil defense and other government bodies have worked since Friday night, all weekend, to rescue, shelter and start rebuilding.
“Thank God the Brazilian people are very supportive,” says Rio Bonito’s culture director. Diane OliveiraWho worked in distributing food on Saturday.
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