Heavy rains in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state have resulted in 31 confirmed deaths, with the toll expected to rise. More than 70 people remain missing, and approximately 17,000 have been displaced. The state’s civil defense reported that nearly half of its 497 cities have been affected. In several towns, streets essentially turned into rivers, with roads and bridges destroyed. The storm also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam structure at a small hydroelectric power plant. A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at risk of collapsing, authorities said, ordering people who live nearby to evacuate.
The death toll is expected to climb further as authorities have not been able to access certain locations due to the heavy rains. Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite described the situation as the most critical case the state has ever recorded. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to Rio Grande do Sul to visit affected locations and discuss rescue efforts with the governor. The heavy rains continue to cause devastation in the southernmost state of Brazil, with more than 70 people still missing and thousands displaced from their homes.
The heavy rains battering Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state have left at least 31 people dead, with the death toll expected to rise. More than 70 individuals are still missing, and approximately 17,000 have been displaced as a result of the severe weather. Nearly half of the state’s 497 cities have been impacted, with roads turning into rivers, bridges destroyed, landslides occurring, and a dam structure at a hydroelectric power plant collapsing. A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at risk of collapsing, prompting authorities to order evacuations in the area.
Governor Eduardo Leite described the situation as potentially the most critical case the state has ever faced, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the affected areas to discuss rescue efforts with local officials. The heavy rains have led to a state of emergency in Rio Grande do Sul, with search and rescue operations ongoing to locate missing individuals and provide assistance to those affected by the flooding and landslides. The full extent of the damage caused by the heavy rains is still being assessed as authorities work to access all affected areas and provide support to residents in need.
