The bad weather that has devastated the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul over the past week has granted a reprieve in the final hours. Meteorologists, however, predict that the period of good weather will last at most until Wednesday when a new disturbance will hit the area 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, over 20 thousand people in danger have already been recovered. 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 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.
Fleeing from Porto Alegre, almost without water and electricity
The capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, is currently the scene of an exodus of residents, fleeing the city which has remained almost completely without water or electricity. Over 70% of homes in the metropolis of 1.3 million inhabitants – flooded by the flooding of Lake Guaíba – no longer have access to essential services.
With the main highways blocked and the airport closed, the only possible direction to take – as also suggested by the mayor Sebastião Melo – is towards the coast, an area that has recorded less damage due to the wave of bad weather that has been punishing it for a week state where 40% of residents are descendants of Italians.
“We are also thinking of going to the seaside because we only have a small reserve of water left in the tank and there isn’t one planned
normalization soon”, the Italian Antonio de Ruggiero, professor of contemporary history at the Pontifical University of Rio Grande do Sul (Puc-Rs), tells ANSA. “At least three or four families of residents of my condominium have already moved towards the it costs money,” he added.
Increased traffic flow to the coastal region is causing congestion along secondary roads, given
that the main federal highways and state roads are closed and the hinterland is impassable due to landslides.
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
