Heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul likely to continue over next few days
Authorities are on alert for a worsening situation in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Meteorological authority Inmet is forecasting heavy rains in the state starting Friday (May 10). They are likely to continue until Sunday (12) with greater intensity in the center-north and east of the state as well as the south of Santa Catarina.
The level of the Guaíba river is below five meters, but rivers in the south of the state have begun to rise and overflow.
The number of displaced people has more than doubled in 24 hours, going from over 163 thousand on Wednesday (8) to 327,105 on Thursday (9), bringing the number of people who have been affected by the floods to 1.74 million. These are people who have lost their homes and have no access to electricity, water, or food, as per the latest report from the state Civil Defense, released at 6 pm yesterday.
The number of municipalities affected has reached 431, over 80 percent of the state’s cities. A total of 107 people have died as a result of the rains, 134 are missing, and 754 are injured.
