Porto Alegre: Once again, relentless heavy rains lashed Brazil’s southernmost state, dealing a severe blow to ongoing recovery efforts and inundating previously unaffected areas in Rio Grande do Sul’s capital, Porto Alegre.
In the aftermath of record-breaking floods over the past month, which claimed 163 lives and displaced approximately 600,000 individuals, the region faced another deluge, compounding the devastation.
After a brief respite characterized by a mere drizzle in recent days, businesses had cautiously reopened, and residents had earnestly commenced the arduous task of reconstruction. However, the tranquility was short-lived as Thursday morning heralded the return of torrential downpours, submerging swathes of Porto Alegre once more.
The repercussions were swift and severe. A daycare facility in the Menino Deus neighborhood, which had only resumed operations on Wednesday following an extensive cleanup, found itself compelled to evacuate amid the deluge.
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Reflecting on the sudden onslaught, the center’s director, who opted to remain anonymous, remarked, “It all happened very quickly, much faster than last time.”
Within a span of 12 hours, certain areas of Porto Alegre received precipitation surpassing their typical monthly quota, as per data from the national meteorological institute. The inundation also encroached upon previously untouched parts of the city, such as the southern districts.
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In the neighborhood of Cavalhada, Gimena Samuel found herself summoning assistance for her elderly parents, stranded amidst flooded streets, inaccessible to vehicles. “There are a lot of elderly people here who can’t get out by themselves,” she lamented.
Earlier in the week, municipal authorities had urged residents to leave refuse on sidewalks for disposal. However, the renewed downpour resulted in the scattered debris clogging drains and exacerbating flooding, contrary to expectations.
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While Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastiao Melo acknowledged the city’s anticipation of adverse weather conditions, he characterized the latest bout of rainfall as “excessively heavy”.
In contrast, residents voiced dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of timely warnings, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced preparedness measures.
