On 9 December, Sunday, there was a 4.9 earthquake near Itacarambi, Minas Gerais, which is about 355 km north of Belo Horizonte. It actually damaged some homes in the area and unfortunately killed a five year old girl. This is the first death contributed to an earthquake since record keeping began in 1968.
The area has been declared a “risk area” for earthquakes and the families living there will be relocated.
Unlike the earthquake prone Andes Countries to the West, Brazil very seldom has earthquakes and ones that cause damage almost never.
> http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/10/315_-15.php
Brazil is very fortunate when it comes to natural disasters - it seldom has them. Flooding is the most damaging and dangerous. There is sometimes the occasional thunderstorm that will produce hail and strong winds. These usually take place in the southern part of the country.
UPDATES:
22 April 2008
Categories:
Tags: 2007, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, december, earthquake, Minas Gerais, Montes Claros
