Brazil surpasses 100 deaths due to floods in the south of the country, one of its worst climate tragedies

The number of deaths due to catastrophic flooding in the southern region of Brazil exceeded one hundred, in one of the country’s greatest climate tragedies, according to the latest report released this Wednesday by Civil Defense.

The hardest hit state is Rio Grande do Sulin the border Uruguay It is Argentina and where 100 deaths were recorded, five more than on Tuesday night, 128 missing and 372 injured, according to official data.

LOOK HERE: Floods in Brazil: at least 84 dead, 111 missing and hundreds of thousands affected

The neighboring state of Santa Catarina has so far recorded one death, which brings the preliminary number to 101 deaths across southern Brazil, which since Monday last week has been facing a strong storm associated with the effects of the climate crisis.

Aerial view of a flooded area in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, taken on May 8, 2024. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP) (NELSON ALMEIDA/)

In Rio Grande do Sul, 80% of municipalities were affected by severe floods, which partially or completely flooded cities, including Porto Alegrethe regional capital and whose main airport has been transformed into a gigantic lagoon.

In this state, one of the most prosperous in the country, around 230,500 people had to leave their homes and in total there are 1.5 million victims, according to the Civil defense.

The resulting rains and floods left a large part of the population without water and electricity and caused considerable material damage to roads, bridges and other urban infrastructure.

Rescue teams, with the support of Armed forcesThey continue to work in the area to find more victims and save the incommunicado survivors, many of whom only had time to climb to the roof of their homes.

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The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvastated this Wednesday, during an event to present investments in the areas of infrastructure and prevention of natural disasters, that this climate tragedy is “a warning to the world” It is “a bill that the planet is passing on“for Humanity.

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leitesaid that the state lives “a war situation”in the face of what is already one of the worst climate tragedies in the history of Brazil and this could worsen in the coming hours, as a new storm is expected in the extreme south of the region.

The heavy rains in the south of the country, an important agricultural hub, contrast with the high temperatures, above 30 degrees Celsius, which have been recorded in recent days in Rio de Janeiro It is São Pauloinappropriate for this time of year.

Source: Elcomercio