Floods in Rio Grande do Sul: see the tireless work of those rescuing victims stranded in the state’s biggest natural disaster | Fantastic

Floods in Rio Grande do Sul: see the tireless work of those who rescue stranded victims

Rio Grande do Sul is experiencing the biggest natural disaster in its history. The number of deaths caused by floods in the state has risen to 78, 105 people are missing and 175 people are injured. Furthermore, more than 134 thousand people are away from home.

This Sunday’s Fantástico (5) showed the scenario of fear, destruction and also solidarity in the affected regions.

“The situation we are experiencing is absurdly exceptional. It is not just a critical case, it is the most critical that the state will have in its history”, said the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB).

A human rope pulls a boat without an engine in the middle of the night. It’s the fight for survival in Canoa, a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul. The water covered half of the city and forced more than 180,000 people from their homes.

“We are organizing ourselves as best we can, there are volunteers, people from all sides. We provide the first assistance and send them to shelters”, said Gustavo Bredow, rescuer.

Rio Grande do Sul is experiencing the biggest natural disaster in its history

Eldorado do Sul, also in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, can only be reached by boat or helicopter. And communication is poor.

That afternoon, helicopters brought food to the city, which is estimated to have 5,000 people in need of food.

As the flood grows in volume, the mayors plead in various ways, but the message is the same: save yourselves. Military personnel are mobilized to transport food, water and fuel. And also to rescue isolated people.

For the first time this Sunday (5), the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) began using a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ARP), a type of drone, to help locate and identify victims of the storms.

The FAB advises that, when hearing or seeing the aircraft, people at risk should signal or make marks on a surface to facilitate identification and sending support.

On his social network, surfer Pedro Scooby announced that he is traveling to Rio Grande do Sul with a group of surfer friends and boat and jet ski riders to help with the rescues.

“We got together the best big wave riders in Rio and we’re heading south; I hope we can get there in time to help,” said the surfer.

President Lula made a second visit to Rio Grande do Sul this Sunday (5). He stated that there will be no bureaucracy to release funds for the reconstruction of the state.

It was 10:30 am when the president arrived in Rio Grande do Sul. Lula (PT) flew over Porto Alegre and the metropolitan region, and was able to witness the calamity that the state is experiencing: municipalities like Canoas and Eldorado remain underwater.

The presidents of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), and of the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and the vice-president of the Federal Supreme Court, Edson Fachin, and the president of the Federal Court of Auditors, Bruno Dantas , were also with Lula.

In a press conference, Lula guaranteed that there will be no shortage of resources for recovery work in Rio Grande do Sul.

“I know that the state of Rio Grande do Sul has a difficult financial situation. And I know that there are many state roads that are in trouble. I want to tell you [ao governador Eduardo Leite] Don’t be worried because the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transport, will help you recover state roads. And when rebuilding houses, I have already decided to take into account with the mayors that we cannot allow people to rebuild their houses in the same place as the house that collapsed”, he said.

In the same press conference, the state governor, Eduardo Leite, stated that the scenario is one of war and defended fiscal flexibility, as happened in the Covid-19 pandemic. “Rio Grande do Sul is already a state that has difficulty operating normally due to fiscal restrictions,” he stated.

Pope Francis asks for prayers for Rio Grande do Sul

At the Vatican, Pope Francis asked for prayers for Rio Grande do Sul. When addressing the faithful in São Pedro Square, he stated that he is praying for the population and asked that God welcome those who died in the floods.

You can help flood victims in Rio Grande do Sul. The website ParaQuemDoar.com.br has a guide to trusted organizations that are collecting donations.