This week´s tragic flooding in the north of Rio de Janeiro state, around 100km from the heart of the 2016 Olympic city, is just another example of one of Brazil´s biggest ongoing challenges. Flooding is an annual threat in many parts of Brazil, particularly in the heavily populated south-east incorporating the three biggest states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, and will no doubt return in the wet seasons preceding the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Importantly, the problem regularly affects not just rural and remote areas but also the dense capitals and other major cities of each state, creating havoc for literally millions of Brazilians and, with an eye on the approaching mega-events of 2014 and 2016, major risks for thousands of foreign tourists.
The current questions over urban planning and infrastructure, safety and evacuation procedures, transport systems, water management and associated issues clearly highlight some of the most pressing dilemmas to be addressed over the next few years, and international expertise and input will surely be required. Indeed, improvements in Brazil´s abilities to plan for and manage such inevitable natural disasters could and should be one of the major legacies post 2016.