The National Institute of Meteorology of Brazil (INMET) issued this Monday a red storm alert, equivalent to “serious danger”, in Rio Grande do Sul, the state affected by the devastating rains and floods that left at least 83 deaths in recent years. days.
“Storms are expected in areas of Rio Grande do Sul today and tomorrow,” INMET said in a bulletin. “The total volume of rain might exceed 100 millimeters (mm) in 24 hours, with winds exceeding 100 km/h and hail falling.”
The phenomenon will interest the southeast of the state, added INMET, and might cause damage to buildings, power outages, damage to crops, falling trees, flooding and disruption of road transportation.
The Brazilian entity asked citizens to disconnect electrical appliances and the main power supply of homes.
Another yellow warning – “potential danger”, with 50 mm of rain expected – was issued for the southernmost strip of the state, on the border with Uruguay.
The alert was issued hours following the Brazilian Government decreed a state of calamity in 336 of the 496 municipalities that make up the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul due to the heavy rainfall that has been falling throughout the past week, reaching levels that They had not seen each other since 1941.
The list of affected municipalities includes the state capital, Porto Alegre, where the water level exceeded five meters this weekend, and cities with high population density such as Canoas and Caxias del Sur.
According to the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul, at least 83 people died as a result of the storm, there are more than 270 injured and another 111 missing, while the Brazilian Air Force deployed reconnaissance drones this Sunday to help locate and identify more victims.
In total, around 850,000 people have been affected throughout the state, the southernmost in the country, of which 141,300 have lost their homes. The authorities have warned that the forecast of rain for the coming days once once more puts the state on flood alert.
“We are in war”
The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, promised that bureaucracy will not be an obstacle in the state’s recovery efforts and that all necessary resources will be made available to the region.
“We owe a lot to Río Grande del Sur and the gaucho people,” Lula said.
Meanwhile, the populations of the affected localities face episodes of crime such as looting and murders.
The situation seems especially serious in the city of Arroio do Meio, in the center of Rio Grande do Sul, where a wave of looting was recorded in several parts of the municipality, as reported this Monday by O Globo.
Several commercial establishments were looted, according to the Brazilian media, by a mob that took clothes, toys, wine and even motorcycles.
According to the GZH media, a murder was also recorded in the city. The incident occurred a few meters from where lifeguards were disembarking the people rescued with boats. The body was thrown into the water and removed by other people, according to witnesses.
In another part of the city, a man was shot and taken by helicopter to the neighboring town of Lajeado.
The municipality already accumulates 80 million reais (almost 16 million dollars) in damages from the flood, according to the city council. According to the Civil Defense, the flooding of the Taquari River, which flows through the city, has affected some 3,900 people, 600 of whom are refugees.
Around 200 houses were completely destroyed or condemned by the force of the waters, as well as several commercial establishments, health centers and schools.
Lula visited the region this weekend leading a delegation made up of several ministers from his Government and the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, and the Chamber of Deputies, Artur Lira, who have announced that this week Congress will vote on “extraordinary measures.” of financial aid.
“We are at war, I know that is President Lula’s feeling, there will be no limitations or legal restrictions. It is necessary to get rid of bureaucracy, obstacles and limitations so that nothing is missing in the reconstruction of Río Grande del Sur,” said Pacheco.
Looting and murders
Meanwhile, the populations of the affected localities face episodes of crime such as looting and murders.
The situation seems especially serious in the city of Arroio do Meio, in the center of Rio Grande do Sul, where a wave of looting was recorded in several parts of the municipality, as reported this Monday by O Globo.
Several commercial establishments were looted, according to the Brazilian media, by a mob that took clothes, toys, wine and even motorcycles.
According to the GZH media, a murder was also recorded in the city. The incident occurred a few meters from where lifeguards were disembarking the people rescued with boats. The body was thrown into the water and removed by other people, according to witnesses.
In another part of the city, a man was shot and taken by helicopter to the neighboring town of Lajeado.
The municipality already accumulates 80 million reais (almost 16 million dollars) in damages from the flood, according to the city council. According to the Civil Defense, the flooding of the Taquari River, which flows through the city, has affected some 3,900 people, 600 of whom are refugees.
Around 200 houses were completely destroyed or condemned by the force of the waters, as well as several commercial establishments, health centers and schools. Infobae
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2024-05-08 13:45:37
