BRASILIA.– Rescue efforts in the south of Brazil they do not stop, after the serious floods caused by torrential rains and the overflowing of rivers for a week, and the number of deceased reaches 137 and the number of victims reaches almost 2 million, according to Civil Defense. The exact number of missing persons has not been quantified to date.
This May 11, the organization also reported that the tragedy, which has caused regional commotion, extends to 441 municipalities of the 497 that make up the state of Río Grande do Sul, bordering Argentina and a river area in Uruguay.
In these localities, there are 1.95 million affected people, generally with lower resources, which is equivalent to 17.3% of the 11.3 million inhabitants of this state, considered the fourth most prosperous entity and the fifth with the highest index. of Human Development, of the 27 that make up Brazil, including the Federal District.
Floods, of enormous magnitude in southern Brazil, could increase, because heavy rains could continue this weekend, according to the most recent report from the National Institute of Meteorology.
In addition, it foresees a high probability that the winds will intensify and the water level will increase in the Patos Lagoon, near the state capital, Porto Alegre, and its surroundings, according to the information.
Affected and destroyed by floods
Rescue authorities reported that more than 70,000 affected people had to be housed in improvised victim centers that have been installed in schools, gyms and churches, as well as another 339,929 have been housed in the homes of family and friends.
None of them have real options to move to other states.
And the floods destroyed their homes, as part of some towns that were completely under the water, such as the cities Canoas and Eldorado do Sul, while other towns were partially affected.
It was reported that Porto Alegre, the regional capital, was partially devastated in a “sea of mud,” and Mucum is already in reconstruction plans in areas far from the rivers.
Solidarity activated in the face of rain
Civil Defense, in a balance, reported that 27,218 officials, including firefighters, military and police, participate in the rescue work, who also have patrols, aircraft and boats with which they have managed to rescue more than 70,000 people and some 9,984 animals. .
Faced with this unprecedented tragedy in the south of Brazil, solidarity does not cease from other states of the South American country and communities and churches collect food and clothing to relieve the victims.
And also from international aid organizations and countries in the region. In Miami, centers were organized to collect supplies for the enormous number of affected Brazilians.
Source: With information from AP. Infobae, Diario Las Américas
