The number of people killed by the floods that hit southern Brazil increased from 96 to 101, according to a new report released this Wednesday by local authorities.
Almost all of the deaths occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which to date has 100 confirmed deaths, according to the local Civil Defense. The state of Santa Catarina recorded one death.
According to the authorities of Rio Grande do Sul, There are 128 people missing and 372 injured due to the heavy rains that directly affect 1.4 million people. In addition, more than 66 thousand people are in shelters created to accommodate the population removed from flooded and risk areas and there are still 163,720 homeless people.
In 417 of the 497 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul there are records of problems related to the largest climate disaster that occurred in this Brazilian state.
On Monday night, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, warned the population about the risk of flooding in the municipalities located on the shores of Lagoa dos Patos.
The water that flooded the state capital, Porto Alegre, and that has caused chaos in several neighborhoods of the city that are still flooded, receded a little on Tuesday and on Wednesday it runs through the lagoon towards the sea.
Brazilian authorities remain focused on rescuing isolated survivorswhile working to guarantee energy and water to the affected population.
Experts warn of the risk of new problems, since weather conditions in the region could be aggravated by a cold front that reaches the southern region of the state and will cause rain and a drop in temperatures this week, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet). ).
With 11 million inhabitants, Rio Grande do Sul has been greatly affected by climate change. After suffering problems with a severe drought due to the La Niña phenomenon, last year the region began to be affected by El Niño and recorded, in less than 12 months, four climate disasters caused by cyclones and extratropical storms.
In 2023, three events occurred in June, September and November, which caused 75 deaths in this Brazilian state.
Source: Observadora
