Paraíba's governor, Lucas Ribeiro, declared a state of public calamity following heavy rains that caused flooding and damage across several cities. Rainfall in the last 24 hours broke 30-year records in at least three municipalities. The announcement came on Friday, May 1.
Governor Lucas Ribeiro of the Progressistas party announced the public calamity declaration on Friday (May 1) due to the heavy rains' impacts in Paraíba. The Agência Executiva de Gestão das Águas (Aesa) recorded record rainfall over the last 24 hours, with the highest in Alhandra at 191 mm, exceeding 30-year highs.
The most critical situation was in Ingá, where a river overflowed and destroyed a bridge in the municipality. In Itabaiana, rains damaged another bridge and opened a crater at the site. Flooding and structural damage were reported in various Paraíba cities.
In response, the Departamento de Estradas de Rodagem da Paraíba (DER-PB) closed sections of highways, including PB-032 in Pedras de Fogo, PB-054 and BR-230 in Itabaiana, and the urban stretch of PB-066 in Ingá.
