An alligator was spotted swimming in a flooded street in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro after the Acari River overflowed, flooding several neighborhoods.
On Monday, October 9, an alligator was seen swimming in the flooded streets of Rio de Janeiro's North Zone, following the overflow of the Acari River, which affects the neighborhoods of Acari, Fazenda Botafogo, and Coelho Neto. The Faria-Timbó River in Bonsucesso also overflowed, inundating dozens of homes. Reports indicated that in some areas, water levels reached nearly two meters, and forecasts predicted more thunderstorms throughout the day, raising concerns about further flooding.
On Tuesday, October 10, early in the morning, cleanup crews from Comlurb organized a massive cleaning effort in Higienópolis, also located in the North Zone. Residents were desperately trying to salvage furniture and personal belongings from the floodwaters. One local physical education teacher, Daniel Lofiego, described the scene, highlighting the extensive damage as neighbors struggled to recover from the flood. This incident has raised serious concerns regarding the city’s drainage systems and the impact of heavy rains on urban areas.
The overflow of the Faria-Timbó River, which runs parallel to the Linha Amarela, was a key factor in this series of flooding events. Local residents explained that once the river overflows, sewage ends up flowing back into the streets, exacerbating the flooding situation. This particular street is noted for being the first to flood and the last to drain, which underscores the infrastructural challenges the city faces during heavy rain events. Overall, the incident raises broader issues about urban planning and disaster preparedness in the face of increasingly severe weather conditions in Brazil.
