The torrential rains which have affected the south of Brazil for several days and the rising waters have left at least 37 dead and 74 missing. The regional capital, Porto Alegre, was hit in turn. The task of rescuers is formidable, with entire towns practically cut off from the world, made inaccessible by the floods which devastated the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where it is expected to rain at least until Sunday.
Residential areas drowned as far as the eye can see, roads destroyed or bridges swept away by the current, not to mention the ruptures of dams which risk further aggravating the situation: the human and material damage is considerable and especially concentrated in the central region of this State.
In Porto Alegre, the regional capital with some 1.5 million inhabitants, the disaster will be “unprecedented”, warned the governor, Eduardo Leite. On Friday, streets in the historic center of the city were in turn invaded by water due to the exceptional flood of the Guaiba, a river in southern Brazil. Authorities estimate that the level of the Guaiba could reach 5 meters in the coming hours. The historic record, dating from 1941, is 4.71 meters.
Risk of dam failure
According to the governor, the state of Rio Grande do Sul is experiencing the “worst climate disaster in its history”. At least four dams “are in an emergency situation, with a risk of rupture,” local authorities warned. Amid the disaster, four pregnant women were rescued in the town of Agudo, taken by helicopter to a hospital.
The toll, already heavy with 37 dead, 74 missing and 74 injured, remains very provisional. More than 250 localities have been hit by devastating storms and storms for several days. The latest count from the authorities lists some 351,000 victims. In total, 23,600 people had to leave their homes.
Rains until Sunday
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the region on Thursday, promising that it would not lack human or material “resources” in the face of this tragedy. The federal government has pledged to send helicopters and boats, as well as more than 600 soldiers, to bolster relief operations and food distribution.
The weather forecast is worrying, with rains of “extreme severity” expected to persist until Sunday, according to civil defense, which also warned of the risk of another river, the Uruguay River, overflowing. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity. Water supply is also compromised in many localities, as is access to the Internet or mobile phone signal. To the north of Rio Grande do Sul, the neighboring state of Santa Catarina is now also hit by the rains.