Heavy rains in Brazil: Toll rises to 39
Sao Paulo, Brazil - The death toll from heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to 39 with some 70 people still missing, the Civil Defence agency said on Friday.
The heavy rain was one of the worst climate tragedies that has so far affected 235 municipalities, including the state capital of Porto Alegre, according to the agency.
The state has seen persisting rainfall since Monday, causing rivers to swell, destroying bridges, and putting the city of Porto Alegre, with a population of more than 1.4mn, on alert.
Heavy rains also spread to the neighbouring state of Santa Catarina, where a person was killed in the flooding and landslides. Recognising the calamity, the Brazilian government has sent equipment and financial aid to Rio Grande do Sul.
More than 24,000 people were displaced by the disaster, according to the agency.
“These will be difficult days. We ask people to leave their homes. Our goal is to save lives. Things will be lost, but we must
preserve lives. Our priority is to rescue people. As for the rest, we’ll find the way ahead,” Governor Eduardo Leite said.
Leite confirmed that this is ‘the biggest disaster in the state’ and that Rio Grande do Sul is in a ‘state of war’.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged full support to the affected region, assuring that ‘there will be no lack of human or material resources’ to alleviate the suffering caused by the extreme weather conditions.
Federal assistance has already been mobilised, with 12 aircraft, 45 vehicles, and 12 boats deployed alongside 626 soldiers to aid in rescue and relief operations. The focus is on clearing roads, distributing essential supplies such as food, water, and mattresses, and establishing shelters for displaced individuals.
Forecasters have issued warnings of further peril, as the state’s main Guaiba river is anticipated to reach alarming levels, exacerbating the existing crisis. Entire communities have been cut off, with infrastructure severely compromised by the relentless downpour.
The dire situation has prompted authorities to urge residents to evacuate from highrisk areas near rivers and hillsides susceptible to mudslides. Access to basic amenities such as drinking water has been disrupted, leaving hundreds of thousands without essential services.