The number of people killed as a result of the heavy rains that hit Rio Grande do Sul over the last week has reached 100. According to the state Civil Defense, four deaths are being investigated to determine whether, in fact, they were caused by adverse effects of the rains, such as floods, floods, landslides and landslides.
According to Civil Defense, there are at least 128 people missing across the state. The bulletin released at noon this Wednesday (8) informs that around 1.45 million people have already been affected by the consequences of the rains in 417 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul.
According to the bulletin, there are 163,720 homeless people – people who had, at some point, to seek shelter in the homes of family or friends. Many of them wait for the water level to drop to return home. And 66,761 people were left homeless, that is, with nowhere to go, they had to take refuge in municipal public shelters. At least 372 people were injured.
Meteorologists predict that part of the state will be hit again by intense rain and strong gusts of wind starting today. According to the Navy Hydrography Center, the coastal strip between the cities of Chuí, in Rio Grande do Sul, and Laguna, in Santa Catarina, could be affected by the passage of a cold front, with winds of up to 88 kilometers per hour.
The Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul issued a warning that people rescued from areas affected by the rains should not return to these locations. “The soil in these locations is still unstable, with the ground flooded and the risk of landslides,” said Lieutenant Sabrina Ribas, from Civil Defense communications.
As for the rains expected to start today, Sabrina highlighted that the warning continues, especially from the lower half of Laguna dos Patos. “In any situation in which any risk to the population is identified, we will coordinate with the municipal public authorities so that [as prefeituras] adopt the measures provided for in contingency plans. Sometimes there is a certain resistance [de parte da população, que não quer sair de casa]but we have been working to make people aware of the need not to put themselves at risk and to pay attention to warnings.”
