Rio Grande do Sul
More than 140 dead in floods in Brazil – more floods expected
Well over 600,000 people in Brazil have already had to leave their homes because of the floodwaters
© Andre Penner / AP / DPA
For days, people in the south of Latin America’s largest country have been struggling with a natural disaster. There is no end to the flooding in sight.
The death toll after the devastating floods in southern Brazil has risen to 145, the civil defense of the affected state announced. Since it also rained this weekend, the number of people who had to leave their homes rose to more than 618,000. In total there are more than two million people affected by floods.
According to the regional government, the largest warship in Latin America was received on Saturday in the port of the city of Rio Grande for humanitarian aid operations. Key equipment includes two water treatment plants capable of producing a total of 20,000 liters per hour. It also has, among other things, an intensive care unit, a thermal bath, an operating room, a dental practice and a complete pharmacy. The deployment of the ship represents, according to Vice Admiral Fonseca Júnior, the Navy’s greatest effort on behalf of the people of the State.
In addition to people, 10,000 animals were also saved in Brazil
According to the Agência Brasil news agency, almost 90 percent of all cities in the state, which is almost the size of Italy, are affected by the floods. Many communities were cut off from electricity and water supplies. Telephone and internet connections were also interrupted in many places. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced an aid package of more than 50 billion reais (almost 9 billion euros) for the region. According to civil defense, over 76,000 people and over 10,000 animals have been rescued so far.
There is also a risk of further flooding in the flood area: after further heavy rainfall, the water levels of almost all major rivers in southern Brazil are rising, as the authorities warned. The risk of further flooding is “very high”.
It is now autumn in the southern hemisphere of the world, and floods occur again and again in the south of Brazil at this time. According to scientists, however, climate change is increasing their frequency and intensity.