Rousseff announces $1.98 million for municipalities hit by tornado

President Dilma Rousseff visited Monday (Apr 27) the areas in Santa Catarina state affected by a tornado on April 20 and announced the allotment of $1.98 million for repair works in the municipalities of Xanxerê and Ponte Serrada.

After hovering over the region, Rousseff said that the government demands the swift reconstruction of the cities, especially people's homes. “We can't be as quick as the tornado, but we're setting promptness as the goal of this operation,” she said. The document authorizing the allotment of the funds sets a 180-day term for works and services to be concluded. The president says that most of the resources will be sent to Xanxerê, the most severely affected city.

According to the Civil Defense, over 500 people lost their homes and more than 4,200 were forced out of their houses after the twister hit Xanxerê, where two deaths and 97 wounded were reported. Apartment buildings affected by the twister total 2,188.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira