05/26/2024 – 16:55
Rescue and search work for the missing continues in Rio Grande do Sul, due to the floods that hit 469 of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul this month of May. According to a bulletin released by the state Civil Defense on the morning of this Sunday, the 26th, there are already 169 confirmed deaths as a result of the flooding – as of Saturday, the 25th, there were 166. At least 56 people are still missing.
The heavy rains hitting Rio Grande do Sul have already left 581,638 people homeless. Of these, 77,711 were rescued by Civil Defense teams and 55,813 remain in shelters provided by the state government.
In addition to the numerous deaths, 806 people were injured throughout the month and 12,497 animals needed to be rescued – many of these have not yet been reunited with their owners.
According to the RS Civil Defense, 27,751 people are currently rescuing, with support from 4,046 vehicles, 14 aircraft and 232 boats.
As shown by the Estadãoin recent weeks, the amount of trash spread across the water and the increase in leptospirosis cases have become additional challenges to the disaster.
At least four people have already died from leptospirosis, an infectious disease transmitted mainly through the urine of infected rats.
Thunderstorms are forecast in the region at the beginning of the week. Afterwards, the situation should improve
According to a weather report released by the company MetSul this Sunday, the 26th, the forecast is for more rain in Rio Grande do Sul at the beginning of the week. An extratropical cyclone begins to form this Monday, the 27th, and should bring, in addition to storms in some regions of the south and east of the State, strong winds and a storm surge at sea.
However, heavy rain should not reach the most critical flooding points in the State. Nor should there be enough water volume to increase existing flooding. “It will not cause a significant increase in flooding in the rivers that cut through the valleys, in Jacuí and, in effect, in Guaíba”, he says. “Where it should rain the most is in the basins of the Gravataí, Sinos and Caí rivers, but without volumes that would cause a major flood.”
The meteorology company also points out that, after the cyclone, the situation should improve. “This type of system (cyclone) usually propels dry air towards Rio Grande do Sul when it starts to move away. Therefore, after the instability of this beginning of the week, which will not bring new river floods in already damaged areas, the cyclone will guarantee several days in a row without heavy rain or with sun and clouds, causing the levels of several rivers to drop.”
The rain moves away and the sun begins to appear with greater intensity in the state between Thursday and Friday, according to MetSul.
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