An extratropical cyclone hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, on Monday, bringing with it rain, strong winds and hail. According to the latest update, 21 people died from bad weather and thousands were left homeless.
The numbers were advanced this Tuesday by the governor of the Brazilian state, Eduardo Leite. According to BBC Brazil, the Civil Protection issued alerts for storms, flash floods and gradual floods.
“With great sadness we received the news that with the receding of the waters (…), hundreds of people were rescued, but now I receive information of 15 corpses located in the municipality of Muçum. This causes us immense pain and raises the death toll from 6 to 21,” said the Brazilian governor, quoted by Globo.
“The level of the Taquari river could reach 24.92 meters, in Muçum, according to the State Civil Protection forecast. This would be the biggest flood in history. All families living in or near affected areas should collect their belongings and seek shelter,” the municipality added.
Among the fatalities is a woman who died during the rescue. The rope that was dragging her to the helicopter broke and caused the woman to fall into the water, and she was subsequently carried away by the current. “One of our rescuers, a policeman from our military brigade, was rescuing a lady over the Taquari River and, as he was about to reach the helicopter, the cable broke. W.The two went to the river. The lady lost her life. The police managed to be rescued. and he was taken to the hospital with injuries”, explained Eduardo Leite.
Another person died at home from an electric shock. Three others died in accidents involving cars trying to cross the flood waters.
According to the BBC, there are records of floods, houses left without a roof and others with roofs with holes caused by ice rocks.
Videos of flooding in the Brazilian municipalities of Roca Sales and Nova Roma do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, are posted on social media.
City of Roca Sales, Rio Grande do Sul under water. Like many other cities in our state. And the rain does not stop. pic.twitter.com/VLTafYTRWG
– milton closs (@miltoncloss) September 5, 2023
Nova Roma do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil ???????? (September 4, 2023). pic.twitter.com/5RcvVoPiri
— ????????????????????????????????????35 (@Centinela_35) September 5, 2023
12:35 pm (Tuesday) – Rio Grande do Sul:
City of Roca Salles, catastrophe! pic.twitter.com/5YQE6kFfyA— Ciro Salla – ⓟ (@cirosalla) September 5, 2023
Source: Observadora
