Heavy rains in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul have left at least 10 people dead and 21 missing since Monday, the country’s civil defense official said on Wednesday.
The Civil Defense added that 11 more people were injured and more than 3,300 people were forced to flee their homes due to storm damage.
Telecommunications carriers reported power outages and water outages across the state, and authorities detailed numerous accidents, including flooded roads, landslides and collapsed bridges, caused by rapidly rising water levels in rivers and rivers.
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Authorities sent the Brazilian Air Force to assist those stranded. Two helicopters were deployed for rescue operations.
The Southern Province Crisis Cabinet met on Wednesday. In a statement, Lieutenant Governor Gabriel Sousa said rescuing people in isolated island areas was a priority. Authorities had registered more than 130 calls for help by Wednesday morning.
NEWPORT, RI – JULY 15: A Brazilian flag waving in the wind at the International Tennis Hall of Fame Open on July 15, 2022 in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Erika Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“There is a particular concern for dams that are on alert, with the risk of collapse and flooding due to very high water levels,” Souza added. Residents in nearby areas are reportedly being relocated.
Civil defense officials said the heavy rains started on Monday and are expected to continue until Friday.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology, known by its Portuguese acronym INMET, said Tuesday that some areas, including valleys, mountain slopes and cities, received more than 6 inches of rain in 24 hours.
Weather across South America is influenced by the climate phenomenon El Niño, a periodic natural phenomenon that warms the surface waters of the equatorial Pacific region. In Brazil, El Niño has historically caused droughts in the north and heavy rains in the south.
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This year, El Niño has had a particularly strong impact, causing a historic drought in the Amazon. Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to human-induced climate change.
