According to authorities, severe flooding in Brazil has resulted in the tragic loss of 75 lives, with 103 individuals still unaccounted for. Many families have been forced to seek refuge on their rooftops, desperately awaiting rescue.
Officials have reported that the dire situation is unfolding as heavy rain continues to pour down on Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil.
The officials have stated that the GuaÃba River in Porto Alegre, the capital city, has reached an unprecedented high record level of 17.4 feet. This has put the city’s 1.4 million residents in a situation of crisis.
According to ABC News, the governor’s office of Rio Grande do Sul has reported that the devastating flooding has resulted in 75 fatalities. Additionally, there are currently 103 individuals who are still missing. The dire situation has left 839,000 houses in the region without access to clean water, while 421,000 houses are currently without power.
According to the governor’s office, the ongoing flooding has impacted a total of 707,000 individuals, with over 105,000 people being evacuated. The office also reports that at least 20,000 people have lost their homes due to the floods.
This flood is being described as the most severe to hit the area in more than 80 years, surpassing the historic 1941 deluge that caused widespread destruction.
The region is currently facing an alarming environmental crisis as heavy rain started last week and is expected to persist until Tuesday. This situation has raised concerns among officials.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to Rio Grande do Sul for the second time to visit the victims and personally witness the extensive damage in the region.