Update: Massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday.
At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 88,000 people from their homes. Approximately 16,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters.
The death toll from rains in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul has climbed to 56, with local authorities reporting that dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Rio Grande do Sul’s civil defense authority stated that 67 individuals are still missing, and nearly 25,000 residents have been displaced. The storms have impacted over half of the state’s 497 cities, which share borders with Uruguay and Argentina.
Floods have caused extensive damage to roads and bridges across various regions of the state. Additionally, the storm has led to landslides and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant. Authorities have also expressed concerns about a second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves that is at risk of collapsing.
In Porto Alegre, the state capital, the Guaiba river overflowed, flooding streets and prompting the suspension of all flights at the city’s international airport for an unspecified duration.
Governor Eduardo Leite warned on Friday that the death toll could increase as the situation develops. The National Institute of Meteorology forecasted more rainfall in the state’s northern regions on Saturday and advised residents in high-risk areas to seek alternative shelter.
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