Flooding threat prompts Brazil's World Cup host city to declare state of emergency

Flooding threat prompts Brazil&#039;s World Cup host city to declare state of emergency

(Image credit: MARIO TAMA/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

With just two weeks to go until the World Cup, the Brazilian host city of Manaus has declared a state of emergency due to rising waters caused by an Amazon River tributary swell. Although the city doesn't expect massive flooding, the declaration is a preventive measure, in case the city needs quick access to emergency resources.

The stadium, which Manaus says won't be damaged if severe flooding strikes, is slated to host four highly anticipated games throughout the month-long event. It's just the latest in a series of setbacks that have plagued Brazil's World Cup preparations.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.