50 villagers cling to two trees to stay alive

BRANQUINHA: Nearly the entire population of a small village of ceramic artisans and descendants of runaway slaves survived massive flooding in Brazil by clinging to two jack fruit trees and praying through a rainy night.

About 50 people from Muquem - once a "quilombo", or refuge for slaves who ran away centuries ago - raced to the two 20m-tall trees as the Mundau River burst from its banks late last Friday.

"It was a true miracle," said Adriano de Araujo Jorge, president of the Alagoas state environmental agency, who arrived at the village to deliver aid yesterday. "The jack fruit trees are strong - most of the surrounding trees had fallen."

He said residents recounted the terrifying 18 hours they spent in the trees, watching as waters rose around them and carried off their homes and belongings. "They said it was the worst experience of their lives and they were certain they would die," Jorge said. "But they're extremely religious. They prayed through the night and said they knew only Jesus Christ could save them."

Jorge said it was a bright spot in an otherwise horrific week for Brazil's northeast, where floods have killed at least 45 people, driven 120,000 from their homes, wiped out 2000km of roads and downed at least 80 bridges.

Elsewhere in the area, Brazilians stranded for days returned to ruined homes in riverside towns that have been reduced to twisted piles of rubble and mud.

Brazilian authorities said 135 people remain unaccounted for - down from 607 the previous day. "It's a relief. We knew the number would come down," said Alagoas state fire department spokesman Rafael Felipe. "Now we have to focus on finding the rest of those missing."

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva flew over the hard-hit areas yesterday.

- AP