Priscilla Mazenotti, Roberta Lopes and Pedro Peduzzi       Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – The worst rains in over five years have caused the Acre River to rise to its second highest level in history resulting in severe damage in the state of Acre. The Acre River is at 17.41 meters, putting it over three meters above its flooding level (the highest level ever was in 1997 when it reached 17.66 meters). The flooding has now had a negative impact on over 60,000 people, leaving at least 7,000 homeless.

 In the capital, Rio Branco, a large part of the city is now underwater.

João de Jesus Oliveira da Silva, state coordinator of Civil Defense, points out that flooding is an annual event in the state. “It happens every year, but we have assistance at the municipal, state and federal level. President Dilma Rousseff just released R$1 million (funds from the Ministry of National Integration) and we will have a support group from the Air Force on the ground this week to assist in dealing with the crisis,” said the coordinator, adding that shipments of food are on the way.

Light rain is predicted for Acre over the next few days (it is the rainy season and the rain is not going to stop anytime soon). It is expected that the worse has passed and that the river will begin to recede over the next few days.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Cheia do Rio Acre já é a segunda maior registrada na capital Rio Branco

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