Tragedy in Brazil: extratropical cyclone leaves at least 44 dead and 46 missing in Río Grande do Su

The passage of the extratropical cyclone that hit southern Brazil a week ago has so far caused 44 deaths, 46 missing, 224 injured and more than 150,000 victims, authorities reported this Sunday.

The latest bulletin released by the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul, a state bordering Argentina and Uruguay and the most affected by the floods, also increased from 85 to 88 the number of cities affected by the meteorological phenomenon.

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“This catches our attention because phenomena like this have occurred in many different places on our planet,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva commented on the tragedy during his speech this Sunday at the G20 Summit in India.

Aerial view of the area affected by an extratropical cyclone in Mu um, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, taken on September 5, 2023. (Photo by Mateus BRUXEL / RBS AGENCY / AFP). (MATEUS BRUXEL/)

The most delicate situation continues to be in Muçumwhich reported 15 deaths and in which firefighters are still searching for thirty of the 46 missing people.

Eight missing people are wanted in the city of Lajeado and eight others in Arroio do Meio. The three municipalities were affected by the rise in Taquari River.

The majority of deaths, 43, occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Braziland the other fatality was registered in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, also bordering Argentina.

The latest balance indicates that The cyclone affected 150,341 peopleof which 15,440 had to temporarily or permanently leave their homes due to the floods.

A house damaged after a cyclone in Mu um, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on September 6, 2023. (Photo by SILVIO ÁVILA / AFP). (SILVIO AVILA/)

The cyclone left some cities under water and the floods caused landslides and destroyed bridges, roads and other infrastructure, as well as extensive crops.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who is acting as President due to Lula’s trip to India, visited the affected regions on Saturday and announced the release of resources for 56 million reais (about 11.2 million dollars).

Of these resources, Alckmin detailed, 800 reais (about 160 dollars) will be allocated for each affected person and 4,600 reais (about 920 dollars) for the affected farming families.

The Brazilian Government has sent a contingent of 900 people to the affected areas, including first responders, health professionals and social workers.

Source: Elcomercio