the budget increases, new disruption is expected

The bad weather that has devastated the state in the last week dthe Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, with aflood historic has granted a truce in the last few hours. Meteorologists, however, predict that the period of good weather will last at most until Wednesday 8 May, when one new disturbance it will hit the territory already tormented by flooding. Making the scenario worse is the forecast of a sharp drop in temperatures which represents a challenge to the survival of the thousands of families still isolated and often stuck on the roofs of their houses waiting for help. For this reason, the armed forces announce a further effort to speed up rescue operations as much as possible.

According to the official budget of the federal government they have already been recovered over 20 thousand people cwho were in danger. The Civil Protection is concentrating its operations on the municipalities most affected by the emergency in Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and Guaiba, while the state government has authorized volunteers to use its own vehicles, boats and jet skis to help in the rescue efforts.

The death toll, meanwhile, has risen to at least 83 dead, 111 missing and 291 injured. Almost 150 thousand people were forced to leave their homes. Half a million homes are without electricity and a million homes are without water. Traffic is interrupted on hundreds of roads.

Furthermore, 17 hospitals have been closed and another 75 are only partially functioning. The damage recorded in 364 of the 496 municipalities in the state affected was incalculable. The production sector is paralyzed.