In Brazil’s southern region, more than a million people are without access to clean drinking water. Nearly 90,000 individuals have been forced to evacuate their homes due to flooding, mudslides and heavy rainfall, according to the country’s civil protection authorities. The floods have resulted in at least 70 fatalities and over a hundred individuals remain missing.
Those who have been displaced by the flooding have sought refuge in shelters set up in various locations such as sports centers, schools and other facilities. Unfortunately, two more lives were lost in an explosion at a flooded gas station in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
Forecasters predict that water levels will continue to rise on Monday as the rains persist. Water levels have rapidly increased in Rio Grande do Sul, causing severe strain on dams and leading to overwhelming flooding in Porto Alegre. The city of 1.4 million residents is facing a critical shortage of drinking water with 70% of the population affected.
Residential areas have been submerged, roads destroyed and bridges swept away due to the powerful currents of floodwater. Many people in Porto Alegre have taken to rooftops to await rescue while others navigate flooded streets in canoes and small boats. Over 300 other cities and villages are also grappling with the devastating impact of the floods.
Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul has acknowledged that significant investments will be needed for post-disaster recovery efforts. Porto Alegre International Airport has been forced to suspend all flights indefinitely due to the extreme weather conditions caused by global warming and El Nino weather phenomenon as warned by environmental scientist Francisco Eliseu Aquino who attributed destructive storms to climate change stating that Brazil should expect an increased frequency of extreme weather events
