TeleSUR
Brazilian authorities reported this Wednesday that at least 100 people died due to the rains that hit the south of the country, and also reported that the number of missing people rose to 128 and another 372 were injured.
More than 1.4 million people were affected by the rains in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the hardest hit. More than 163,000 people are homeless and another 66,761 have been placed in shelters.
The data was confirmed by the state Civil Defense. Four other deaths are being investigated that may be related to the rains.
The vast majority of the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul have been totally or partially affected by rainfall and flooding, including the regional capital Porto Alegre, where the main airport has become a gigantic lagoon.
In total, 417 of the 497 municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, that is, 83.9% of them, were affected by heavy rains.
According to the Civil Defense, in that state, one of the most prosperous in the country, some 230,500 people have had to leave their homes and around 1.5 million have been affected by the floods that have left a good part of them without water and electricity. of the population and caused considerable material damage to roads, bridges and other urban infrastructure.
One death was recorded in the state of Santa Catarina, bringing the total number of deaths to 101 in the south of the country.
Meanwhile, rescue teams and the Armed Forces continue working in the area to find more victims and transport the survivors to a safe place, many of whom only had time to climb to the roof of their houses.
During an event to present investments in areas of infrastructure and prevention of natural disasters, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that this climate tragedy is “a warning to the world” and “a bill that the planet is passing.” to humanity.
On the other hand, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, referred to the current scenario in the south of the country as “a war situation.”
Civil Defense Alert advises the population not to return to flooded areas. The request applies to all those rescued, mainly in the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region.
“These places are still at high risk, whether related to physical condition, as well as the risk to human health due to disease transmission,” a statement from the organization states.
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