Uruguay sends helicopter to help with rescues in RS

The Uruguayan government provided a helicopter and a team to assist in the rescue of people stranded by the rains in Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The Uruguayan Air Force aircraft has a team of eight people, including pilots, co-pilots, technicians and rescuers. The group is expected to operate in rescue operations in Santa Maria (RS) starting this Sunday afternoon (5).

“Brazil is grateful for the quick and efficient response of the government of Uruguay in this crucial HumanitarianAssistance to support the Rio Grande do Sul communities affected by the floods”, informed, on a social network, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) .

The entity linked to Itamaraty added that the Uruguayan team is in Bagé (RS), already supplied, awaiting better weather conditions to continue to Santa Maria. “The action is the result of negotiations between Uruguay and Brazil, under the coordination of the foreign ministries of the 2 countries”, he added.

In a statement, the Uruguayan Air Force reported that it responded “immediately to the request for international collaboration made by Brazil to face the catastrophic floods”.

Rescues

The number of people rescued amid flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul reached 17,900, according to a bulletin released by the Civil Defense on Saturday night (4). In the mountains of Rio Grande do Sul alone, 431 people were rescued, 145 of them by helicopter.

A task force made up of 3,300 employees, including firefighters, civil and military police officers and members of the Armed Forces, are working on the rescue efforts, with teams from the federal government and nine other units of the federation, such as Minas Gerais, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. January.

According to the government of Rio Grande do Sul, the rescue fleet consists of 1,400 vehicles, including aircraft, vehicles and vessels. According to the federal government, there are 29 Armed Forces helicopters mobilized for operations, in addition to four aircraft.

The number of people killed by the heavy rains that hit Rio Grande do Sul reached 66, according to the latest Civil Defense bulletin released at 9am this Sunday. Another six deaths are still under investigation and another 155 people are injured. There are still 101 missing.

The number of deaths surpassed the state’s last environmental catastrophe in September 2023, when 54 people lost their lives. Authorities say this is the worst climate disaster in Rio Grande do Sul’s history.

The rains also forced 95,700 people to abandon their homes, including 80,500 displaced people and 15,100 homeless people. In total, the rains have already affected 707,100 people in the state. Of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, 332 were affected by heavy rains, which represents 66% of the total.

The Gaucho government asks the population for help. The most necessary items are mattresses, bedding, bathing suits, blankets, drinking water, animal feed and basic food baskets, preferably closed, to facilitate transport. Find out how to donate.