On Saturday, April 19, 2025, a severe storm wreaked havoc across Baixada Santista, with the municipality of Guarujá bearing the brunt of the deluge. Reports indicate that the region experienced significant flooding, prompting local authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of residents.
The Civil Defense of the State of São Paulo had issued a warning earlier in the day about the potential for heavy rainfall, alerting residents via text messages on their cell phones. The message urged people to stay indoors and seek safe shelter. As the storm intensified, the Civil Defense escalated its response. At approximately 8:30 PM, an extreme alert was dispatched specifically for the Barreira do João Guarda area in Guarujá, accompanied by the activation of warning sirens. Residents were instructed to evacuate their homes and seek refuge at the nearby Sérgio Pereira Municipal School.
Data released by the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) and the Center for Monitoring and Natural Disasters (Cemaden) confirmed that Guarujá was the most affected city in São Paulo during the storm, with rainfall measurements indicating that 102mm fell in Jardim Albamar, followed by Pereque with 89mm, Enseada at 84mm, and Vila Baiana at 70mm. The Guarujá City Hall reported a staggering total of 171mm of rain in just three hours.
As the situation escalated, the sirens in the Barreira community were activated, and residents were advised to move to safety. The Sérgio Pereira Rodrigues School, located at Avenida Atlântica, 1516 in Balneário Cidade Atlântica, was opened as a shelter for those displaced by the floods. Additionally, the Ginásio Guaibê, located at Avenida Santos Dumont, 420 in Santo Antônio, was also designated as a refuge for residents from the Cachoeira area.
In Santos, other neighborhoods were also grappling with flooding, notably Campo Grande, Gonzaga, and Marapé, as well as the Zona Noroeste and coastal areas. Reports indicated that a shopping center in the Aparecida neighborhood and the garage of a building in Embaré were inundated.
Local news outlet Santa Portal contacted various municipal authorities regarding the storm's impact. The city of Praia Grande reported no significant incidents, while Peruíbe's Municipal Civil Defense stated that they had not received any emergency calls but were keeping a close watch on the neighborhoods. Some streets in the area experienced flooding, and power outages were reported.
In Guarujá, the Civil Defense noted that between 5:30 PM and 11:30 PM, the city recorded the total rainfall expected for the entire month of April, which averages 190.7mm. In just six hours, Guarujá saw 191mm of rain, leading to widespread disruption. Since the beginning of April, the city has received a total of 282mm of rain.
As the storm continued to cause chaos, there were reports of landslides in the Morro do Bio area, which led to the preventive closure of the affected region. At least 17 individuals were directed to municipal shelters for safety.
Further north in São Vicente, heavy rainfall caused structural concerns when the asphalt on Avenida Marechal Deodoro collapsed at the intersection with Rua Pero Lopes de Souza, raising alarms about the integrity of nearby buildings. The local Civil Defense assessed the situation and determined that evacuation was not necessary.
The storm's effects were felt in cities beyond the coast. In the ABC region, heavy rains prompted emergency calls for flooding, particularly in São Bernardo do Campo's Galileia neighborhood, where several homes were reported to have been flooded. Diadema also experienced severe weather, with heavy rain and strong winds causing flooding, downed trees, and damaged walls. In Santo André, rainfall on Saturday exceeded the monthly average, with 110mm recorded, surpassing the expected total of 106.6mm.
Meanwhile, the picturesque town of Campos do Jordão was not spared, as heavy rain led to landslides and flooding, forcing four individuals to seek shelter with relatives after being displaced.
The storm has raised concerns about the preparedness of local authorities in dealing with such extreme weather events, especially as climate change continues to manifest in more severe weather patterns. Residents are left grappling with the aftermath, assessing the damage and seeking assistance from local government and emergency services.
As recovery efforts begin, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of those affected and addressing the infrastructure challenges highlighted by this storm. The Civil Defense continues to monitor the situation closely, ready to respond to any further developments or emergencies that may arise.
The events of April 19, 2025, serve as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of community preparedness in the face of unpredictable weather.
