Brazil Floods: Devastating floods caused by heavy rains have pummeled Rio Grande do Sul, a southern state in Brazil. The death toll has climbed to at least 78, with over 115,000 residents forced from their homes.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the state on Sunday, accompanied by his cabinet members. Their objective: discuss rescue and reconstruction efforts with local authorities.
“We won’t let red tape hinder our efforts to rebuild the state’s glory,” declared Lula at a press conference.
Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul described the situation as a “warzone,” emphasizing the need for significant recovery measures.
Remarkable acts of heroism are unfolding amidst the crisis. Volunteers are using various means, including boats, jet skis, and even swimming, to rescue people trapped by floodwaters. Fabiano Saldanha, a resident of Porto Alegre, the state capital, recounted how he and his friends used jet skis to save roughly 50 people from flooded islands within the city since Friday.
“Everywhere we go, all we hear are cries for help,” Saldanha said.
The situation remains dire, with the number of missing persons rising to 105 on Sunday, up from 70 the previous day. Authorities are also investigating four additional deaths potentially linked to the storms.
Flooding has impacted over two-thirds of Rio Grande do Sul’s nearly 500 municipalities, bordering Uruguay and Argentina. The displaced population has surpassed 115,000. Roads and bridges across several cities have been destroyed by the floods, which also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a small hydroelectric dam.
As of Sunday evening, more than 400,000 people were without electricity, and nearly a third of the state’s population lacked access to clean water.
In Porto Alegre, the Guaiba lake overflowed its banks, reaching record water levels, as per the national geological service. The city’s international airport has been shut down since Friday.
Kaeli Moraes, a resident seeking refuge at a makeshift rescue center in Porto Alegre, described a harrowing rescue along with her husband and children as floodwaters threatened to engulf the second floor of their home.
“This is the third flood we’ve faced since September. It’s just getting worse,” lamented Moraes.
In Canoas, a city near Porto Alegre, 76-year-old Julio Manichesque was rescued by volunteers after spending days stranded on the rooftop of his house, where he’s lived for over five decades.
“I’ve never witnessed this much water,” Manichesque said in disbelief.
Even Pope Francis acknowledged the crisis during his weekly address at the Vatican. The Pope expressed his solidarity and offered prayers for the people of Rio Grande do Sul.