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Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License  Flooding in Lauro de Freitas (Brazil, 2010). Photo by Secom Bahia
07 May 2024

Flooding in Brazil's Rio Grande Sul area has killed 85 and displaced 150,000 people

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In the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, heavy rains have triggered widespread flooding, submerging hundreds of towns and leading to a heavy loss of lives. 

Officials report at least 85 fatalities and the displacement of approximately 150,000 individuals from their homes. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but with more than 130 people still missing and some communities cut off, hopes of finding survivors are diminishing.

Forecasters predict further heavy rainfall in the coming week, exacerbating the already critical situation. Many residents have been forced to evacuate, with rescue teams prioritizing the removal of the most vulnerable individuals. As Rio Grande do Sul grapples with the aftermath of this disaster, the need for additional support and resources remains urgent.


On Tuesday, the Brazilian Airlines Association announced that the airport in Porto Alegre would remain shuttered until the end of the month. The closure comes in the wake of the Guaíba river overflowing its banks, inundating the runway and critical infrastructure buildings.


Local officials have reported that the river has surged to a record-breaking height of 5.3 meters (17.4 feet). This surpasses the previous record set in 1941, which stood at 4.76 meters.


The unusual weather conditions, characterized by higher-than-average temperatures, elevated humidity levels, and powerful winds, have contributed to the extreme weather events.

According to climate expert Francisco Eliseu Aquino, Rio Grande do Sul has historically been a convergence zone for tropical and polar air masses. However, he noted that these interactions have intensified due to climate change, amplifying the impact of weather phenomena in the region.

 

The BBC has a large gallery of recent photos of the disaster. 

 

According to AlJazeera.com, Weather across South America is affected by the climate phenomenon El Niño, a periodic, naturally occurring event that warms surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region. In Brazil, El Niño has historically caused droughts in the north and intense rainfall in the south. 

 

According to Research.net, most people, in absolute terms, are exposed to river flood risk in the states of Amazonas, São Paulo, Para, Pernambuco and Maranhão. With regard to flash floods, most people live in risk areas in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Santa Catarina.

 

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License

Flooding in Lauro de Freitas (Brazil, 2010). Photo by Secom Bahia