Feb 17 • 15:48 UTC 🇧🇷 Brazil Folha (PT)

'I thought I was going to die,' says woman who clung to a pole to avoid being swept away by a flood in Guarulhos (SP)

A woman clung to a pole in Guarulhos, Brazil, during a severe flood to avoid being swept away as her car was dragged by the current.

The article reports the harrowing experience of Larissa Guedes Posse, a systems analyst who found herself in a life-threatening situation during a severe storm in Guarulhos, São Paulo. As heavy rains caused flooding, Larissa's car began to be swept away, prompting her to jump out and cling to a nearby pole for safety. She described the moment as terrifying, nearly drowning as the water rose around her, and expressed her fear of losing her life in that desperate moment.

In her interview with TV Globo, Larissa recounted how, after leaving her workplace, she noticed the water rapidly rising and felt her car floating. Despite her efforts to seek refuge, the situation escalated quickly and forced her to leap from her vehicle. She survived the ordeal by holding onto the pole, a precarious position that left her battling with floodwaters up to her neck. Larissa expressed her shock and disbelief at having escaped such a dangerous situation while grappling with the loss of material belongings due to the flood.

The broader context of this incident highlights the severe weather conditions affecting São Paulo and surrounding areas, raising concerns about urban infrastructure and emergency preparedness in face of increasingly extreme weather events. As more individuals face similar challenges during storms, the need for robust disaster response and community resilience becomes apparent, underscoring the importance of addressing climate vulnerabilities in urban planning.

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