Brazil’s Flooding Continues to Cause Distractions

Picture courtesy: (Renan Mattos/Reuters) Flooding in the centre of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul.

(The Post News) – On Sunday, May 5th, the state civil defence authorities in Brazil announced that massive flooding in Canoas, southern Rio Grande do Sul state, has claimed at least 75 lives due to flooding. Although the number is expected to rise, more people are still missing without knowing what their current state will be like. 155 people got injured; on the other hand, 103 people were confirmed to be missing.

However, 88,000 people have left their homes as the flooding continues to create havoc. Some took refuge in schools, gymnasiums, and other temporary shelters. In spite of claiming lives and leaving people with no homes, the flooding has also caused landslides, collapsed bridges, and seen roads transformed into rivers throughout the state. The rain started last week, and it continued to escalate into flooding, which the Brazilian Geological Service called the worst flooding to occur, breaking the deluge record for the year 1941.

The Brazilian Geological Service indicates that the water levels in the cities of São Paulo are at their highest in 150 years. The authority urged that it is the worst flooding to occur in the state in more than 80 years. The state is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created periods of intense rain and others of drought. Scientists urged that the pattern has been intensifying due to climate change. Aerial photos demonstrate that in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul’s capital, the Guaíba River broke its banks, flooding streets.

Some of the details couldn’t be seen as the eyes could reach below the water, with the tops of some houses barely visible. In the city, people were climbing rooftops to sick shelters while waiting for the rescue team. On the other hand, the city is now like a river, with people traveling in small boats across the navigable streets. All flights were temporarily stopped at Porto Alegre’s international airport on Friday.

According to the state meteorology authority, more rain is expected in the northern and north-eastern regions of the state; however, the volume of precipitation has been declining and will at least be below the levels that have been witnessed in the past days. During the week, in other areas, as much as 150mm (6 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours. The state governor, Eduardo Leite, urged that on Sunday, he repeat that the devastation they are facing is unthinkable and that a Marshall Plan will be required to rebuild areas that are affected by the flooding.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had visited Rio Grande do Sul to discuss rescue efforts with the governor. In September 2023 Massive flooding hit the state due to the cyclone, which left at least 50 people dead. The cyclone occurred after more than two years of persistent drought in the La Nina phenomenon.