Ten people died and 21 are missing due to heavy rains this week in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with the governor warning this Wednesday that the situation is critical and could worsen.
During a press conference, Governor Eduardo Leite said he had spoken with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in search of all possible federal assistance.
“A catastrophic situation is happening in Rio Grande do Sul, which is expected to worsen in the coming days due to rain forecasts,” he said.
Leite also stated that Lula would travel to the state on Thursday, which was later confirmed by the president in a post on platform X.
According to the governor, the storms caused the greatest devastation in the state in recent years, leaving several municipalities isolated after bridges collapsed and roads were destroyed amid floods and landslides.
Leite ordered the suspension of classes throughout the state for the remainder of the week and said that he requested full support from the Armed Forces “to effectively participate in the coordination of this moment that resembles fighting a war.”
During the press conference, Leite stated that the state is experiencing “the worst disaster in our history”.
“What is happening in Rio Grande do Sul right now is absolutely, absurdly, extraordinarily serious,” said the governor. “And unfortunately it’s going to get worse. This is the signal I need to give at this press conference.”
Authorities reported more than 3,400 people displaced following storms that led to rising river levels and flooding in several parts of the state, affecting 114 municipalities.
In a report on hydrological conditions released on Tuesday, the RS government predicted a risk of flooding “in practically the entire state”, given the prospect of continued “heavy precipitation” in the coming days.
The bulletin also reported that flooding will be severe in the basins of many rivers, with the possibility of flash floods and mass earth movements in regions with steep slopes.
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Tags: Heavy rains kill people Rio Grande Sul historic destruction
