On Thursday evening, officials in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, reported that the death toll from recent severe rains has reached 29.
The state government has declared a state of public calamity in response to the severe flooding, marking this as one of the worst natural disasters in the region’s history.
Currently, 60 individuals remain missing, and over 10,242 people have been displaced across 154 cities, as per the state’s civil defense authorities.
Governor Eduardo Leite described the situation as unprecedented during a live broadcast, noting that the impact exceeds that of last year’s heavy rains.
Additionally, the state faced a significant setback when a dam at a small hydroelectric power station ruptured, leaving more than 300,000 residents without electricity, according to the main utilities company.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the devastated areas and held an emergency meeting with Governor Leite in Santa Maria. President Lula assured full federal support for recovery efforts, emphasizing the need for careful and respectful management of the crisis. Governor Leite, in a video message, called for robust coordination in rescue operations and emphasized the escalating risks from climate events.
This catastrophe follows a series of natural disasters in Brazil, including last year’s landslides and floods in Sao Paulo state, which claimed over 50 lives.
