Brazil floods: Dam collapses and death toll rises in Rio Grande do Sul
Following several days of heavy rainfall, a hydroelectric dam in southern Brazil collapsed, resulting in extensive flooding that has claimed the lives of over 30 individuals. Officials report that approximately 60 individuals are currently unaccounted for in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Since Saturday, about 15,000 residents have evacuated their homes, while an estimated 500,000 people are grappling with the loss of electricity and access to clean water across the state.
The breach in the dam unleashed a two-meter (6.6ft) wave, exacerbating the already dire situation in the flooded areas and inducing panic among the populace. The dam is situated between the municipality of Cotiporã and the city of Bento Gonçalves.
The unusual weather patterns, characterized by higher-than-normal temperatures, elevated humidity levels, and intense winds, have been identified as the underlying cause of this extreme weather event.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has personally visited the affected region, offering assurances of support from the federal government.
State Governor Eduardo Leite has urgently appealed for assistance, emphasizing the critical need to rescue hundreds of individuals scattered across numerous municipalities.
Efforts to locate stranded individuals have been bolstered by the deployment of helicopters. However, in certain areas, the flooding has rendered traditional landing impossible, necessitating the aerial rescue of residents.
In the municipality of Candelária, residents found themselves seeking refuge on the rooftops of their homes as floodwaters inundated their living spaces.
Meteorologists have issued forecasts indicating the likelihood of further rainfall in the region as a cold front traverses the affected area.
Last year, more than 30 people were killed in a cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology attributed the increased intensity and frequency of rainfall to the climate phenomenon El Niño.
Residents stranded on rooftops after deadly Brazil floods
