According to the latest report published this Saturday by the Civil defensethe number of deaths due to the storms that hit southern Brazil causing flooding suman 137something never before recorded in the region.
The report prepared on Friday followingnoon by the National Institute of Meteorology indicates that during the weekend they might fall more than 15 centimeters of rainFurthermore, it revealed a high probability that intensify the winds and increase the water level in the Patos Lagoon, near Porto Alegre and its surroundings.
The tragedy accounts for at least 141 people missing y 400 thousand displacedof which 340 thousand have taken refuge in the residence of friends and family, while some 71 thousand people are in improvised shelters by the authorities.
So far, 444 cities have been affected and a total of one million 950 thousand people have been affected for the storms.
According to the Brazilian Confederation of Municipalities, the violence of the waters damaged or destroyed more than 92 thousand homes.
Damage caused by storms
Rio Grande do Sul, a state bordering Argentina and Uruguay, has reported 136 dead and 756 injured.
This state is an important agricultural hub and a fundamental sector for the growth of Brazil, but according to the calculations of the regional government it will need at least 3.7 billion dollars to recover from the floods.
Another death was reported in the state of Santa Catarina, also affected by the catastrophe, but to a lesser extent.
On Thursday, May 9, the rains decreased, but resumed intensity this Saturday, especially in the Vale of Taquarí, one of the most affected regions in the last week, and in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
Since the end of April, storms have punished the region, leaving a trail of chaos and destruction in which dozens of cities have been left totally or partially under water, as is the case of Porto Alegre.
Hundreds of roads have been destroyed or blocked, and the victims suffer from a lack of public services; In turn, hospitals are overwhelmed and without adequate conditions to care for patients.
The weather conditions have made rescue and assistance operations difficult.
The new burst of torrential rains complicates the work of 28 thousand troops (firefighters, security forces and volunteers) who are mobilized to provide humanitarian aid.
In the last few hours, the overflow of Lagoa dos Patos (where the waters measure one and a half meters above normal) took over new cities.
In the next few hours, the situation may worsen, as heavy rain and winds are expected, accompanied by a drop in temperature.
For the moment, the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced an aid package of 9.8 billion dollars for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which includes direct assistance measures, subsidized credits for companies and aid for producers. rural, among others.
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