The heavy rains that have hit southern Brazil since the end of April have so far left more than 2.1 million people affected and at least 137 dead, according to the latest report from the Civil Defense.
The number of displaced people rose to more than 600,000, of which some 81,000 had to seek refuge in shelters improvised by the authorities.
What did decrease was the number of missing people, which fell from 141 to 125 after verifying data based on reports from affected citizens.
The most dramatic situation is in Rio Grande do Sul, a state bordering Argentina and Uruguay, where at least 136 deaths and 756 injuries have been reported.
The other death was reported in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, also affected by the catastrophe, but to a lesser extent.
The rains that had given a slight respite since Thursday resumed their intensity this Saturday, especially in the Vale of TaquarÃ, one of the most affected regions in the last week, and in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
Chaos and destruction in southern Brazil
The storms that have hit the region since the end of April have left 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 destroyed or blocked and the victims suffer from the lack of public services; Hospitals are overwhelmed and without adequate conditions to care for patients.
The event has also made the work of the nearly 28,000 troops – including firefighters, security forces and volunteers – who help in rescues and distribute humanitarian aid difficult.
In the last few hours, new cities were taken over by the waters after the overflow of the Lagoa dos Patos, where the waters are already one and a half meters above normal.
The situation may worsen in the coming hours, where in addition to heavy rains, strong winds and a drastic drop in temperature are expected.
Rio Grande do Sul, an important agricultural hub and a fundamental sector for the country’s growth, will need at least 18,839 million reais (3,700 million dollars or 3,400 million euros) to recover from the floods, according to calculations by the regional government. .
For the moment, the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced an aid package of 50 billion reais (9.8 billion dollars) for that state, which includes direct assistance measures, subsidized credits for companies and aid for rural producers, among other
Source: EFE
