Almost 1 meter above the normal level, Lagoa dos Patos overflows and expels people from their homes in the south of RS | Rio Grande do Sul

Water invades the Historic Center of Rio Grande (RS)

The lake is almost 1 meter above the normal level during the morning of this Thursday (9), according to the city halls of Rio Grande and Pelotas. In Pelotas, around 100,000 people live in areas at risk for flooding and are receiving help from the Army to leave their homes.

In Rio Grande, 1,500 have already left their homes. Three shelters were made available by the public authorities and another six are in preparation. The São Gonçalo canal, which bathes the city, also rose and, to prevent the water from advancing over the houses, containment dikes are being built.

In São José do Norte, the city hall recommended that anyone living on the edge of Lagoa dos Patos, which is the majority of the population, leave their homes due to the risk of flooding.

The most recent bulletin from the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul shows that the number of deaths has risen to 107 due to the storms hitting the state. This Thursday’s update indicates that a death is being investigated. The state records 136 missing and 374 injured.

There are 232.1 thousand people away from home. Of this total, 67,542 are in shelters and 164,583 are homeless (people staying with family or friends).

RS has 428 of its 497 municipalities with some report of problems related to the storm, with 1.476 million people affected. See below the impacts on services, education and transport.