Nearly 80% of Rio Grande do Sul municipalities affected by rains

The number of municipalities in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul affected by the heavy rains has reached 388—nearly 80 percent of the state’s 497. Civil Defense data were updated at 9 am Tuesday (May 7).

The report also shows 90 confirmed deaths as a result of the storms and another four deaths under investigation to establish whether they are related to the recent weather events.

At the moment, the number of missing people stands at 132. According to official figures, 361 people have been injured statewide.

So far, 1.36 million people have been affected by the rains since April 29, which represents 12.55 percent of the state’s 10.88 million inhabitants, as per the 2022 census.

The government also estimates that 155,741 people have been displaced and 48,147 people are temporarily in shelters.