Porto Alegre, the capital and largest city of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, is currently grappling with its most severe flooding event since 1941, as floodwaters from the Guaíba River continue to surge, transforming streets into waterways. In the wake of heavy rains in southern Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state, the death toll has reached 37, with 74 individuals still missing. Record-breaking floods have devastated cities, prompting thousands to evacuate their homes.
This marks the fourth environmental disaster in the region within a year, following floods in July, September, and November, which claimed a total of 75 lives.
According to the Brazilian Geological Service, the scale of flooding statewide now surpasses that witnessed during the historic 1941 deluge. Water levels in some cities have reached their highest points in nearly 150 years of recorded data.
On Thursday, a dam at a hydroelectric plant between Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed, while cities in the Taquari River valley, such as Lajeado and Estrela, were completely submerged. In Feliz, a swollen river swept away a bridge connecting it to Linha Nova.
The aftermath has left residents grappling with widespread electricity, communications, and water outages, with over 23,000 people forced to evacuate, according to civil defense authorities.
Marcelo Seluchi, chief meteorologist at Brazil’s National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters, forecasts continued rainfall until at least Saturday.
Governor Eduardo Leite has issued alerts to the state’s population, known as gauchos, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by persistent rains.
Residents like Claudio Almiro, who lost everything in the floods, are seeking refuge in shelters. More than 8,000 individuals have fled their homes, with Almiro describing his despair at losing his possessions but expressing gratitude for surviving the disaster.
Shelters like the Vila dos Anjos cultural center are providing essential aid, with volunteers distributing clothes and toiletries to those in need. The community’s resilience is evident as they adapt spaces like the New Horizons shelter to accommodate disaster victims, highlighting the solidarity and determination of the region in the face of adversity.
