Sao Paulo: The relentless downpours besieging Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have exacted a heavy toll, with authorities confirming the loss of at least 83 lives on Monday. The grim tally continues to rise, with over a hundred individuals still unaccounted for amidst the chaos.
The deluge has engulfed more than two-thirds of the state’s nearly 500 cities, forcing approximately 122,000 residents to flee their homes, as reported by the state civil defense authority. The aftermath reveals a landscape scarred by flooded roads, collapsed bridges, and the ominous specter of landslides, compounded by the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric plant.
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Governor Eduardo Leite underscores the grim reality, cautioning that the casualty count is likely to escalate further as rescue efforts penetrate deeper into affected areas. The state’s civil defense agency confirms that 111 individuals remain missing, a figure that has steadily swelled over recent days. Just a day earlier, on Sunday evening, the toll stood at 78 confirmed deaths and 105 people unaccounted for.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, accompanied by key cabinet members, made a somber visit to Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday. Amidst the devastation, he pledged the government’s unwavering commitment to reconstruction, vowing that bureaucratic hurdles would not impede the urgent restoration efforts.
