Brazil to shut down nuclear plants as a precaution

Landslides near the southern Brazilian city of Angra dos Reis may cause two nearby nuclear power plants to be shut down. The mayor of Angra dos Reis , Tuca Jordao, declared that roads needed for evacuation in case of an emergency have been blocked by the landslides. However, the official said that the two powerplants – known as Angra 1 and Angra II – have not been damaged. A landslide struck a nearby town on January 1 and killed more than 29 people.

Mayor Jordao said that with roads blocked there was no way to quickly evacuate the city's inhabitants in case of a catastrophe at the nuclear plants. "There are no operational problems at Angra I and Angra II... but if landslides persist in the hills, we'll need to shut them down," said Jordao. Torrential rains have deluged southern Brazil and have killed at least 70 people. Electrical service to the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, where the 2018 Olympic Games will be held, were apparently not affected.

At Ilha Grande – the resort near Anga dos Reis = rescuers are still seeking survivors amid the mud and debris left by the New Year’s Day catastrophe. In the region as a whole, 4,000 people have been evacuated.