‘We are not going to wait’, criticizes mayor for lack of helicopter to rescue victims

O mayor of Bento Gonçalves (RS), Diogo Segabinazzi Siqueira, criticized the lack of a helicopter capable of rescuing residents in risk areas in the municipality. Amid the strong storm that hits the south of the country, the municipality of Rio Grande do Sul had several isolated regions after the partial collapse of the 14 de Julho Dam, last Thursday, 2nd.

In an interview with RBS TV, an affiliate of Rede Globo, this Friday morning, the 3rd, the mayor stated that the city recorded hundreds of landslides and that approximately 400 people remained isolated until now. Segabinazzi then complained about the delay in the aircraft’s arrival.

“Unfortunately, the Brazilian Army’s helicopters cannot fly in any weather, so we decided one very important thing: we are not going to wait for a helicopter, we are going to do it our way, the Rio Grande do Sul way, we are going to take it, with our arms, our people”, said the mayor.

Segabinazzi stated that teams, made up of firefighters, military police, members of the Civil Defense and volunteer citizens, have accessed the most isolated regions of the municipality through trails in forested areas. The mayor also highlighted the risk to the lives of volunteers.

“[Estamos] passing through dangerous places, we are putting our people at risk, but we cannot wait. I can’t wait two days for the sun to shine to be able to lift a helicopter, I can’t have that luxury with people,” he said.

The head of the municipal Executive also said that a ‘war helicopter’ was needed to assist in the rescue work. “That has night vision, a powerful engine, that can fly over, lower and climb safely.”

Dam break

On Thursday afternoon, the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul confirmed the partial rupture of the 14 de Julho Dam, located on the Taquari River, between the municipalities of Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves. The case caused the dispersion of a 2 meter high wave, which reached the community of Linha Alcântara.

In a video on social media, Segabinazzi confirmed the monitoring of the dam collapse process and stated that the population was warned in advance and taken to a safe location, in a higher area of ​​the municipality.

Residents of the regions on the banks of the Taquari River were expressly instructed to leave their homes and seek public shelters or alternative places of safety. Civil Defense should also be called upon to search for information.

Storm in RS

Late this Friday afternoon, the Civil Defense of RS released a new bulletin on the victims of the floods affecting the State.

According to the agency, 39 deaths and 68 people were missing. In total, 265 cities were affected by the state’s worst climate catastrophe.

Municipalities remain on alert due to further damage, as well as the need for guidance for the population to leave areas considered at risk.

In Porto Alegre, the rise in the level of the Guaíba River caused the streets in the center, in addition to the bus station, to be flooded. Meteorologists’ forecast is that the flooding in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul will be worse than the historical record of 1941.

Residents must leave risk areas

The government of Rio Grande do Sul reinforced the alert made by Civil Defense on Thursday, regarding the condition of the Caí River, which is exceeding the flood level and affecting municipalities in the region. The guidance is that residents of the regions of Gramado and Canela, cities known for tourism, leave risk areas.

“It is expressly advised that residents of areas close to the river in the municipalities of São Francisco de Paula, Canela, Gramado, Nova Petrópolis, Vale Real and Feliz leave risk areas and seek public shelters or another safe place to stay during the elevation of level of the Caí River”, said the government.

7 out of 10 Brazilians have already been impacted by an extreme event associated with climate change

Source: Redação Terra