Biggest flood in the history of RS leaves communities stranded and causes destruction | National Newspaper

Largest flood in the history of RS leaves communities isolated and causes destruction

The residents of Porto Alegre watch the biggest flood in the history of Rio Grande do Sul in disbelief. On the edge of Guaíba, homeless people keep arriving by boat. In the north, Army trucks provide assistance.

The federal government began setting up a monitoring room in the state this Saturday (4).

Ministers Paulo Pimenta, from the Communication Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, and Waldez Góes, from Integration and Regional Development, met with Governor Eduardo Leite and General Marcelo Zucco, from the Operation Taquari 2 Joint Command. They evaluate how to help the state.

This Sunday (5), President Lula will make a second visit to the region affected by the rains.

Avenida Castelo Branco, the main access road to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, is blocked by a crater. And the water, which invades the road, interrupts BR-290 towards the center and south of the state.

On BR-386, the reconstruction of the bridge destroyed by the Taquari River began. In Estrela, we can already see the setting up of a field hospital.

In Serra, authorities rescue communities stranded by landslides and also find bodies amid landslides.

The receding water reveals destruction. The rescues ended in Candelária, and the cleanup work has begun.

“The water was as high as the door. We’re lucky that we managed to get out. Here, it drops slightly, but the river also fills up slightly”, says a resident.

More than 300 cities in all parts of the state were affected in some way by the storm.

In the center of Cruzeiro do Sul, all stores and commercial establishments were invaded by the flood of the Taquari River. The municipality has no supermarkets, gas stations and no open pharmacy.

“I believe I saved a third of my company. We lost the rest”, says a businesswoman.

A man found his parents’ body inside the house.

“For those who have already lost everything… I lost my house, there was nothing left. And now I lost my parents”, he says.

Communities deeply wounded, seeking strength to rise again.

“Let’s move forward. Let’s fight. We are strong, right?”, says another resident.