Rescuers are working tirelessly to evacuate stranded individuals after catastrophic floods swept across the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. With the death toll reaching at least 90 and thousands left homeless, survivors are facing dire circumstances, desperately seeking food and basic supplies.
Families in the outskirts of Eldorado do Sul have resorted to sleeping on the roadside, enduring hunger and uncertainty. Ricardo Junior, a young man among the survivors, expressed his anguish as he shared his struggles to find his family and food scarcity.
The extensive flooding has challenged rescue operations, leaving many awaiting evacuation by boat or helicopter from their inundated homes. Small boats are navigating the submerged town tirelessly searching for survivors. As of now, the state’s Civil Defense agency reports 131 people still unaccounted for and a staggering 155,000 left homeless.
Climate experts attribute the unprecedented rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul to a convergence of factors, including the El Niño phenomenon, a weaker cold front, and unusual warmth in the Atlantic. Global warming exacerbates these conditions, intensifying their impact and making weather patterns increasingly unpredictable.
The devastating floods have crippled essential services, with over 1.4 million people affected. Porto Alegre, the state capital, has witnessed record-breaking water levels, resulting in flooded streets, empty supermarket shelves, and closed gas stations. Water and electricity services have been severely impacted, leaving nearly half a million people without power. Fuel shortages have also emerged, hindering transportation and affecting the movement of essential supplies.
The economic consequences of the floods are expected to be modest, with a slight dent in GDP growth and a marginal increase in inflation. The soy harvest has been interrupted, livestock has perished, and critical infrastructure has been destroyed. Grain deliveries to the Rio Grande port have been disrupted due to impassable access roads, causing exporters to take lengthy detours.
As the waters recede, the true extent of the damage remains uncertain. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged federal aid to the state, acknowledging the magnitude of Rio Grande do Sul’s worst climate disaster yet.
