Devastating Floods Hit Southern Brazil, 55 Dead and Thousands Displaced

Massive flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain in Brazil‘s southernmost state have claimed the lives of 55 individuals, with an additional 74 missing in Rio Grande do Sul. The calamity has led to the evacuation of nearly 70,000 residents as the storms, originating last Saturday, continue to wreak havoc in the region.

Rio Grande do Sul’s civil defence authorities have confirmed the 55 fatalities connected to the floods, with another seven deaths under investigation for possible links to the disaster. Over half a million people are facing challenges such as power outages and lack of clean water, while the prospect of further rainfall adds to the region’s distress.

The extreme weather conditions, a combination of high temperatures, humidity, and strong winds, have affected more than half of the 497 cities in the state, resulting in the destruction of roads and bridges in various areas.

In a tragic incident near Bento Gonçalves, a hydroelectric dam collapse led to the loss of 30 lives, while a second dam is also at risk of giving way due to rising water levels. The capital, Porto Alegre, saw the Guaíba River overflow, causing flooding and submerging parts of the city, prompting the suspension of all flights from the regional airport.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited the afflicted region, pledging assistance from the federal government. Meteorologists anticipate more rainfall as a cold front moves through the area, with last year’s cyclone that claimed over 30 lives in Rio Grande do Sul being attributed to the climate phenomenon El Niño.