At least six dams in Rio Grande do Sul are at ‘risk of imminent failure’, according to a statement released this Sunday afternoon (5). Another five structures have anomalies that represent ‘a risk to the safety of the dam, requiring measures to maintain safety conditions’. The rains have already killed more than 70 people in the state.
The structures that are at emergency level are the 14 de Julho Hydroelectric Power Plant (UHE), near the cities of Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves, and the São Forqueta Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (PCH), near the cities of São José do Herval and Putinga. In the case of July 14, the situation has been the same for three days, since the structure partially ruptured. In Salto da Forqueta, damage was identified on the right bank of the dam and an accident at the Power House caused by numerous landslides. These structures are monitored by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and the National Electric System Operator (ONS).
In addition, four dams monitored by the Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema) are also at emergency level and are at ‘risk of imminent failure’. They are: São Miguel Dam, in Bento Gonçalves, SDR Dam, in Eldorado do Sul, Saturnino de Brito Dam, in São Martinho da Serra and Arroio Barracão Dam, in Bento Gonçalves.
The Dona Francisca HPP, in Nova Palma, and Bugres (Divisa Dam), in Canela, are at alert level, that is, the anomalies represent a safety risk and require measures to maintain safety conditions. These structures are monitored by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and the National Electric System Operator (ONS). Same situation faced by the Capané (Cachoeira do Sul), B2 (São Jerônimo) and Tupi (Taquari) dams, monitored by Sema.
Another seven dams are at attention level, that is, they present anomalies that do not compromise the safety of the dam in the short term, but require monitoring, control or repair over time. They are: UHE Bugres – Barragem do Blang, in Canela; UHE Canastra, in Canela; UHE Monte Claro, in Bento Gonçalves/Veranópolis; UHE Castro Alves, in Nova Roma do Sul/Nova Pádua; PCH Furnas do Segredo, in Jaguari (Aneel and ONS); Samuara, in Caxias do Sul and Dal Bó, in Caxias do Sul (Sema).
Storm in RS
The regions most affected by the rains in RS are: Central, Vale do Rio Pardo, Metropolitana, Serra Gaúcha and Vale do Taquari. More than 500,000 people are without water and there are more than 292 points without electricity.
Rio Grande do Sul decreed state of public calamity last Wednesday (1st), and governor Eduardo Leite stated that this will be “the biggest disaster in the history of Rio Grande do Sul”.
A Brazil’s navy sent teams, vessels, aircraft and vehicles to help with the rescue. A Brazilian air force sent two helicopters to rescue victims in cities isolated because of highway closures, such as Candelariafor example.
How to help?
According to authorities, homeless and displaced people who were welcomed by Civil Defense need not only food, but also mattresses, bed and bath linen and blankets. Anyone who lives in the Porto Alegre region can contribute in person at the State Civil Defense Logistics Center (Avenida Joaquim Porto Villanova, 101, Jardim Carvalho neighborhood, Porto Alegre).
In addition to receiving donations of various items, authorities allow donations of any type of cash value. To allow people from other cities and states to collaborate, the State Government created a Pix key to receive donations. Anyone who wants to contribute, You can make a Pix for CNPJ 92958800000138.
