Gullies in Buriticupu, Maranhão, have been causing significant destruction and risks to families for decades, with legal authorities demanding action that has yet to be fulfilled.
The article discusses the worsening situation of the gullies in Buriticupu, a city in Maranhão, Brazil, which have progressively encroached on entire neighborhoods over several decades. Despite the ongoing threat to local families and the destruction of infrastructure, including streets and houses, efforts from the Maranhão judiciary and the Public Ministry since 2022 have failed to result in effective structural, environmental, and social protection measures; none have been fully implemented to date. The report cites that there are currently 33 documented gullies, which have led to seven deaths and affected approximately 360 families, with some gullies reaching depths of up to 80 meters.
The article emphasizes that, despite judicial orders and defined deadlines for emergency measures, the municipal government has not developed the mandatory engineering plan nor initiated any definitive containment work. This has led to many residents being forced to abandon their homes due to the ongoing advances of the gullies. The G1 news outlet attempted to contact local authorities for comments, but did not receive a response in time for the article’s publication. The article further breaks down the history and evolution of the crisis, detailing how the situation reached its critical state and what legal actions have been mandated over the years.
