The death toll has climbed to 56 in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state, with tens of thousands displaced.
Devastating floods and mudslides caused by relentless rains are wreaking havoc in southern Brazil, claiming the lives of at least 56 people and displacing tens of thousands from their homes, the government reported.
The country’s civil defense agency confirmed the rising death toll on Saturday and warned that increasing water levels in Rio Grande do Sul state are putting pressure on dams and posing a threat to the city of Porto Alegre.
Originating from storms that commenced on Monday, the flooding is anticipated to worsen as local authorities brace for the aftermath. Rescue teams are tirelessly searching through the debris of destroyed homes, bridges, and roads in search of missing individuals.
Expressing concern, Governor Eduardo Leite stated, “Forget everything you’ve seen, it’s going to be much worse in the metropolitan region,” as the streets of the state remain submerged.
‘Nothing could be saved’
Described as Brazil’s worst flooding in 80 years, the catastrophe has impacted at least 265 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, with 74 individuals injured, over 24,000 displaced, and 350,000 facing property damage in varying degrees.
“Nothing could be saved,” lamented Claudio Almiro, who lost his home and belongings to the raging waters. “Many lives have been lost. I raise my hand to heaven and thank God that I’m alive.”
Several cities and towns are now completely isolated, devoid of electricity or communication, while some residents have been forced to abandon their livestock.
“You don’t know if the water will continue to rise or what will happen to the animals; they may soon drown,” shared Raul Metzel from Capela de Santana, north of the state’s capital.
As heavy rainfall persists, indicating no signs of easing, civil defense officials warn that four dams in the state are at risk of collapsing, heightening the chances of a new “emergency situation.”
The federal government of Brazil has dispatched aircraft, boats, and over 600 soldiers to aid in road clearance, supply distribution, and shelter establishment. Local volunteers have also joined the rescue efforts.
‘Disastrous cocktail’
Climatologist Francisco Eliseu Aquino attributes the intense storms to a “disastrous cocktail” of global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Brazil, South America’s largest nation, has witnessed a series of extreme weather events, with a cyclone in September claiming the lives of at least 31 individuals.
Aquino further explains that the unique geography of the region often leads to clashes between tropical and polar air masses, a phenomenon exacerbated by climate change.
When these collisions align with El Nino, a periodic warming of the Pacific’s tropical waters, it triggers an increase in atmospheric instability.