Neighborhoods under water, incessant rescues, families separated: Flood devastates Canoas

In recent hours, Canoas has been experiencing an unprecedented mobilization of its population to rescue families displaced or made homeless by the floods that hit the city and a large part of the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region. This mobilization coordinated with the task force organized by the City Hall, with members of the Civil Defense, Armed Forces, Fire Department and volunteers spent Saturday night and Sunday morning carrying out rescue operations in the neighborhoods of Mathias Velho, Rio Branco, Fátima, Central Park and Cinco Colônias, among other locations. During the night, residents even formed human chains holding hands, with water up to their waists, to help rescue people affected by the floods. City Hall estimates that more than 70,000 homes have been affected by the floods so far.

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Due to rising water levels, in some regions, access is only possible by boat, helicopter or watercraft. Children who were rescued alone were initially taken to the University Hospital, where they received pediatric care. Due to flooding at the Emergency Hospital, patients were removed to the Universitário and Nossa Senhora das Graças hospitals on Saturday.

According to the City Hall, the support of volunteers with the use of boats and other small vessels has been making a difference in rescue actions in Canoas. According to Civil Defense, these vessels provide access to areas affected by floods and where it is no longer possible to approach on foot or by vehicle. Furthermore, they were also used at night, when air rescues were interrupted. The mayor of Canoas, Jairo Jorge, appealed to more boat owners to contribute to rescues voluntarily.

This Sunday morning, the Brazilian Navy rescued a woman pregnant with twins, her husband and a baby, in the Mathias Velho neighborhood. The family members were lifted from the roof of the house to the Navy helicopter. According to the rescue team, the water was already very close to the roof of the residence and it was necessary to open a hole in the ceiling so that the family could access the roof.

The City Hall’s estimate, on Sunday morning, was that more than 7,500 people were in 28 reception points in the municipality. The City Hall has been encouraging volunteering, which is seen as very important to help at reception points, with tasks such as preparing meals and organizing the structure.

The Child and Adolescent Defense Center of the Public Defender’s Office, together with the Canoas Guardianship Council, issued an alert this Sunday (5), asking that all children rescued in the municipality be taken to Ulbra. This location is serving as a center where children are being welcomed by teams, who are also trying to locate their parents or guardians. Many children were rescued and taken to schools and other spaces without the presence of parents or guardians. According to the Ombudsman’s Office, the situation in Canoas is chaotic and thousands of people are out of their homes due to the floods.

Viaduct closed

The Traffic Directorate of Canoas City Hall released a statement this Sunday afternoon informing that no one is any longer allowed to climb onto the Mauá viaduct. The structure is being blocked from access by the population, as many people were gathering at the site looking for rescued acquaintances. The City Hall has made a link available on its website so that the population can access the list of people sheltered in shelters of the municipality.

Donations needed

According to the City Hall, among the items that require additional donations are: battery-operated flashlights, mattresses, bedding, blankets, hygiene and cleaning items, non-perishable food, among others. A center was created to receive deliveries, which must be made at Cassol, on Avenida Farroupilha, 5775, Marechal Rondon neighborhood. Redemption requests in Canoas must be made via telephone: (51) 9 8255-0947

With information from Canoas City Hall and Agência Brasil