On May 6th, Reuters reported that a series of heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul resulted in severe flooding, submerging cities and leading to the death of at least 85 people.
The torrential rains in Brazil began on December 29th. The downpour resulted in floods, affecting over 850,000 people in 345 cities, constituting 70% of the 497 cities in Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that as of today, at least 85 people have been confirmed dead, with around 130 still missing. Additionally, there are 291 reported injuries, highlighting the extensive human toll of the incident.
Residents rescued by the National Guard have testified to CNN Brazil that they saw bodies in the water, suggesting that the casualty count might rise even further.
The Salgado Filho International Airport in the state is indefinitely closed, and the damage continues with the destruction of homes, roads, and bridges. In the state capital of Porto Alegre, the level of the Guaíba River has risen to 5.26 meters (17.26 feet), far exceeding the flood limit of 3 meters (9.84 feet).
Photographs taken on-site show muddy brown water rising to the rooftops of buildings and rescue teams navigating the waters in boats to save people and animals.
CNN reported that the region has increasingly suffered from extreme weather phenomena recently. Last September, a tropical cyclone hit the area, resulting in at least 54 deaths. They highlighted this recent torrential rain in Brazil as an example of the climate crisis caused by fossil fuels.
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