Rio Grande do Sul declares a state of public calamity due to floods | Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul declared a state of public emergency this Wednesday (1st) due to “weather events of intense rain”. The decision was published in an extra edition of the Official State Gazette.

The decree highlights that Rio Grande do Sul is hit by intense rains, flooding, hail, floods, floods and high-intensity windstorms, being classified as Level III disasters – characterized by high damage and losses.

With its entry into force, it is decreed that state public administration bodies and entities will provide support to the population in the affected areas. It adds that similar requests may be sent by municipalities, which will be evaluated and approved by the State.

The Decree should be in force for 180 days according to the government of Rio Grande do Sul.

‘We won’t have the capacity to carry out all the rescues’, says Leite about storms in RS

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul said this Wednesday that the storm that has hit the region since Monday (29) “it will be the biggest disaster in the state”. Eduardo Leite (PSDB) compared the situation with the tragedies of 2023, which killed dozens of people, and admitted the difficulty of rescuing all affected people.

The demonstration was made during a press conference at the Civil Defense headquarters, in Porto Alegre. The storms have already left 10 dead, 21 missing and 11 injured, according to Civil Defense. The last bulletin reported 4.4 thousand homeless and homeless in the state.

“We will not have the capacity to carry out all the rescues, because it is much more dispersed in this climate event that we are experiencing. And with difficulties, because the rains do not stop there. The state has had difficulties accessing the locations”, said Leite.

The governor asked people living in the affected cities to leave their homes, because security forces are unable to reach all rescue locations.

Meteorologists warn of extreme danger in RS and SC

“It’s a moment of confrontation like a war, where there is no enemy to be fought, but there are critical obstacles to be overcome”, said Leite.

In three weather events last year, the state recorded 75 deaths. The tragedy in Vale do Taquari, in September, left 54 ​​victims. The same region is being hit by this week’s stormswhich also occur in Vale do Rio Pardo, Vale do Caí and the Central Region of the state, in Santa Maria.

“[Em 2023] We had a flood, but then the weather allowed us to enter the field to provide assistance, rescue and save hundreds of lives in those conditions. Right now, we are having a lot of operational difficulties getting teams into the field,” said the governor.

Eduardo Leite also spoke about risk of breakage of the dam Fourteenth of July in Serra do RS.

“If the rains continue, we may have a real risk of this dam breaking. Municipalities that are affected are Cotiporã, São Valentim, Santa Bárbara, Santa Teresa, Muçum”, he warned.

The state has an evacuation plan for the region, according to Leite.