BRAZIL EVACUATES NEARLY 70,000 AMID SURGING FLOOD DEATHS

Sun 05 May 2024:

Severe flooding, mudslides, and heavy storms in southern Brazil have displaced nearly 70,000 people from their homes, with Porto Alegre, the largest city in the region, bearing the brunt of the impact, as reported by the country’s civil defense agency.

The flooding has resulted in 57 fatalities, with 74 individuals sustaining injuries and another 67 reported missing, according to civil defense authorities on Saturday. Additionally, two casualties occurred in a gas station explosion in Porto Alegre, witnessed by an AFP journalist.

The situation is dire in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with rapidly rising water levels straining dams and posing a significant threat to Porto Alegre, a city of 1.4 million inhabitants. The Guaiba River, which traverses the city, has reached a historic height of 5.04 meters (16.5 feet), surpassing the previous record set during the devastating floods of 1941.

Efforts to evacuate inundated neighborhoods are underway, though chaotic conditions are hindering residents’ access to safety. More than 1 million people are grappling with a lack of clean drinking water due to the flooding, resulting in extensive damage described as immeasurable by civil defense authorities.

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul stated that the state, typically one of Brazil’s most prosperous regions, will require substantial investment akin to a “Marshall Plan” for reconstruction post-disaster.

Public transportation, including bus services to and from the city center, has been disrupted, while the international airport in Porto Alegre has suspended all flights indefinitely since Friday.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva shared a video illustrating the dramatic rescue efforts, including a soldier saving a baby from a rooftop. With floodwaters encroaching on a dike along the Gravatai River, Mayor Sebastiao Malo issued urgent evacuation orders via social media.

Governor Leite, in a live Instagram broadcast, characterized the situation as unprecedented, marking it as the worst in the state’s history, known for its agroindustrial production.

Residential areas are submerged, infrastructure has been devastated, and rescuers are facing significant challenges accessing affected areas. Over 300 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul have reported storm damage since Monday, local officials confirmed.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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