The heavy rains that have been pounding Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, have claimed the lives of 58 people, with many more still unaccounted for. The state’s civil defence authority estimates that nearly two-thirds of the state’s 497 cities have been affected, with 67 people still missing and over 69,000 displaced. The devastation is widespread, with floods, landslides, and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant causing extensive damage.
The rains have destroyed roads and bridges, leaving many communities isolated and in dire need of aid. The city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul’s capital, has been particularly hard hit, with the Guaíba lake bursting its banks and flooding streets. The airport has been forced to suspend all flights indefinitely, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
But the worst may not be over yet. According to the state meteorology authority, the rains are expected to continue in the northern and north-eastern regions of the state over the next 36 hours, although the volume of precipitation is expected to decrease and remain well below the peak seen earlier in the week.
Rains Wreak Havoc in Southern Brazil, Death Toll Reaches 58State governor Eduardo Leite has warned that rivers are likely to remain high for several days, making it difficult to determine how long the crisis will continue. Rio Grande do Sul is a unique region, geographically situated at the meeting point between the tropical and polar atmospheres, creating a weather pattern of intense rain and drought. Scientists believe that this pattern has been intensifying due to the climate crisis.
The region has been plagued by severe weather events in recent years. Heavy rains hit the area last September, causing floods that killed over 50 people. Prior to that, the region had suffered a prolonged drought lasting over two years, which was exacerbated by the La Niña phenomenon.