The death toll from intense rainfalls in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul climbed to 29, as confirmed by local authorities on Thursday evening.
In response to the dire situation, the state government declared a state of public calamity.
The heavy rains, which have resulted in the most significant devastation the state has seen in recent years, have also left 60 people missing and displaced 10,242 individuals across 154 cities, according to Rio Grande do Sul’s civil defense.
State Governor Eduardo Leite emphasized the severity of the situation in a live social media broadcast, stating, “It’s not just another critical case; it’s the most critical that the state will probably have recorded in its history.”
He noted that the current situation surpasses the impact of last year’s rains in the state.
Additionally, more than 300,000 people have been affected by power outages following the rupture of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant on Thursday, according to the state’s main utility company.
State Governor Eduardo Leite emphasized the severity of the situation in a live social media broadcast, stating, “It’s not just another critical case; it’s the most critical that the state will probably have recorded in its history.”
He noted that the current situation surpasses the impact of last year’s rains in the state.
Additionally, more than 300,000 people have been affected by power outages following the rupture of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant on Thursday, according to the state’s main utility company.
In a call late on Wednesday, former President Lula assured Governor Leite that he would dispatch as many personnel as needed to assist in managing the situation, as confirmed by the president’s office.
Brazil has been grappling with a series of natural disasters in recent times. Last year, Sao Paulo state witnessed devastating consequences when heavy rainfall triggered landslides and flooding, resulting in the loss of over 50 lives.
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