Keystone
She raced against time to try to save the thousands of people left stranded in their homes following the floods that hit the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Flooding in the lower floors of buildings and in the streets makes the normal movement of people impossible.
The approximately 900 men of the armed forces deployed by the federal government saved 9749 people using 29 helicopters, 4 planes, 866 cars and 182 boats.
Local authorities and volunteers work tirelessly with jeeps, boats and jet skis to try to help isolated people who often wait for help on the roofs of buildings and in non-flooded areas.
In the city of Porto Alegre there is a risk of a humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, the president of the republic, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvawill return to Porto Alegre tomorrow to verify the progress of the rescue operations and coordinate the actions of the federal government which has already created a task force on site.
Lula will be accompanied by a delegation of nine ministers. The head of state had already been in Santa Maria last Thursday.
There is a risk of a humanitarian crisis in the city of Porto Alegre, almost completely flooded following the wave of bad weather that hit Rio Grande do Sul, with the toll from the disaster in the Brazilian state rising to 57 dead, 67 missing, while at least 42 ‘221 people have already been forced to leave their homes.
The overflowing of the Guaiba river brought the city to its knees. With the airport and the bus station closed indefinitely and damage to the motorways and arteries connecting to the coast, the capital is completely isolated and could soon run out of basic necessities, medicines, food and water.
SDA
