The mayor of Angra dos Reis (RJ), Fernando Jordão (MDB-RJ), once again asked for the suspension of activities at the Angra 1 and 2 nuclear plants due to damage to the roads that give access to the city, caused by heavy rains recorded in recent days in the region.
In an interview with CNN this Monday (4), Jordão said that the city’s residents are “islanded” and that “there is no emergency plan for a nuclear power plant without roads”, even with normalized operations at the plants, according to Eletronuclear.
“How are we going to talk about a roadless power plant emergency plan? The population has never had problems with the plants, I am in favor of them. But there is no such thing as an emergency plan without a road. We are stranded,” he declared.
The president of Eletronuclear, Leonam dos Santos Guimarães, said to CNN on Sunday (3) that the shutdown of the Angra plants would generate a technical problem at this time. “The plants are operating normally, in full safety conditions. There is no technical reason to stop the plants from operating,” he said.
Eletronuclear also stated that the External Emergency Plan (PEE) for the Angra dos Reis nuclear power plant was not compromised with road barriers.
The Directorate of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety of the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) stated that, if there is any situation that makes the execution of the PEE unfeasible, it would be appropriate to consider shutting down the plants.
“However, despite the situation resulting from the weather conditions in the Angra dos Reis region, so far there is no compromise on the access roads around the Central, which could impact the execution of the Emergency Plan”, said CNEN, which continues monitoring the situation.
Even without the question of the plants, however, Fernando Jordão highlighted that it is necessary to carry out the necessary adjustments as soon as possible to free up the interdicted roads.
“Rio Santos is interrupted. The lack of maintenance has been going on for many years, and now the road is granted to CCR. I’m sure CCR will do the intervention it has to do, [já que] she is responsible for Rio-Santos”, he declared.
Jordão referred to the concessionaire that manages the Rio-Santos highway. According to him, it is necessary for CCR to be present in the city – a request that President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) would have made to the president of CCR in a call on Sunday, reported the mayor of Angra dos Reis.
On Sunday (3), the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Regional Development (MDR), recognized the emergency situation in Angra dos Reis. With this, Angra dos Reis can ask for resources for response actions, such as relief and humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services, in addition to the reconstruction of areas affected by the disaster.
victims and homeless
Heavy rains brought by a cold front hit cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro on Friday night (1st) and early Saturday morning (2nd). At least 17 people have died from the impacts of the storms so far.
A landslide in Angra dos Reis resulted in the death of eight people in the municipality. Another three people, according to reports from relatives, are missing.
According to Fernando Jordão, there are 314 people in 38 temporary shelters opened by the city government in schools in the region. In addition, the houses will be rebuilt and, in the meantime, the families will receive rent aid, the mayor reported.
*With information from Artur Nicoceli and Isabelle Saleme, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
