At least 10 fatalities have been reported, with over 20 individuals missing following storms that triggered flooding in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Helicopters are conducting search operations across the region to locate stranded individuals. In some severely affected areas, helicopters have faced challenges landing and have resorted to airlifting residents to safety.
The state governor has appealed to the federal government for assistance. “President Lula, please urgently dispatch significant air support to RS [Rio Grande do Sul]. We urgently need to rescue hundreds of people in numerous municipalities facing emergency situations due to heavy rainfall, which has already occurred and is expected to continue in the coming days,” Governor Eduardo Leite conveyed via X, previously known as Twitter.
In response, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva affirmed that the federal government would collaborate with state and municipal authorities to navigate through this challenging period, which stems from the impacts of climate change.
Official reports confirm 10 fatalities, including two individuals swept away in floodwaters in Paverama and another victim of a landslide in Salvador do Sul. Additionally, 21 people remain unaccounted for, with approximately 1,500 individuals stranded.
Efforts persist in locating missing persons and safeguarding communities in vulnerable areas, as emphasized by Governor Leite.
The mayor of Sinimbu described the situation in her town as “a nightmare,” while in Candelária, residents sought refuge on their rooftops as their homes became inundated.
The collapse of bridges and the impassability of over 20 streets have hampered emergency response efforts in the affected regions.
Meteorologists anticipate further rainfall as a cold front traverses the area.
Notably, last year, over 30 lives were lost in a cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology attributes the intensified and frequent rainfall to the climate phenomenon El Niño.