The Civil Defense of Bebedouro, São Paulo, is looking into how the flooding that impacted at least 20 homes could have been linked to the failure of two dams in the rural regions around the city. Heavy rainfall between Thursday night and early Friday morning resulted in a total of 175 mm of precipitation, with the highest concentration occurring in the districts of Botafogo and Turvínia. The potential breakdown or overflow from the dams owned by private companies in these districts is currently under investigation by local authorities.

Local officials note that the rapid influx of water was directed to the Bebedouro Creek, leading to an increase at alarming levels, which contributed to the flooding incidents. The coordinator of Civil Defense, Luiz Antônio Luciano da Silva, explained that the city was forewarned of the intense rainfall, allowing them to lower the level of an artificial lake to mitigate the flooding impact. This proactive measure may have reduced the extent of the disaster, preventing more severe damage and potential loss of life.

This incident highlights the importance of infrastructure management and the potential risks involved with inadequate maintenance of dams, especially in rural areas prone to heavy rainfall. As the investigation unfolds, it underscores the need for scrutiny over similar infrastructures and the protocols in place for managing extreme weather conditions, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.