Satellite images show before and after the biggest flood in history in Rio Grande do Sul | Environment

Satellite images show before and after the biggest flood in history in RS

Images of Amazonia 1 satelliteobtained exclusively by g1show a scaled view of the before It is after of the biggest tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul. The equipment that recorded the images is operated by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

With the state covered by clouds since April 29, ground observation work has been hampered and the images extracted were the exceptions available during the period. They show three specific points of the state: Porto Alegre, Taquari Valley It is basin of the Soturno, Jacuí and Jacuizinho rivers.

The cities of the Valley were built on the banks of rivers, called floodplains by geologists. In other words, they are naturally flooded when the river level rises. Last year, for example, when a cyclone hit the state, the region was also the most affected.

The image above shows the before and after, between April 20th and May 5th. With the volume of rainwater unabated for at least a week, the course of the river was completely altered, advancing over the cities.

In the image, you can see the Soturno, Jacuí and Jacuizinho rivers. The volume of water caused river levels to rise. Online, the flood invaded nearby cities. In cities, families were isolated by the floods. Among the dozens of deaths, three occurred in the region in the cities of São João do Polesine, Silveira Martins and Pinhal Grande.

Venâncio Aires is taken by the flood of the Taquari river

The rain that hits Rio Grande do Sul is the biggest climate disaster in the state’s history, surpassing a major flood that occurred in the 1940s.

According to meteorologists, this time the volume of rain is greater because it persisted for more days – about a week under rain. Cemaden estimates that almost 700 millimeters were recorded in some parts of the state.

To date, the floods have left more than 80 people dead, but more than 100 are still missing. Residents report people being swallowed by the force of the water, but with the volume still high, searches for bodies should only take place when the volumes drop.

Civil Defense estimates that the floods affected around 800,000 people, including the capital, Porto Alegre. The city is underwater in several places. Some points, such as the bus station and the municipal market, can only be seen from above, because they were taken over.

Since Sunday, the rain has stopped in the region. However, the water that is already high should take up to four days to recede. A point of attention for experts is that on Wednesday (7) new storms are forecast.