As of Thursday, the Brazilian civil defense agency has reported a tragic toll of 10 dead and 21 missing due to severe storms that have ravaged the southern region since Monday.
Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul announced the suspension of classes for Thursday due to flooding and mudslides. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is scheduled to visit the state to assess the damage and provide federal assistance.
Leite described the situation as “catastrophic,” emphasizing the urgent need to rescue individuals stranded in flooded homes. “This is shaping up to be the most severe climate disaster our state has ever experienced,” he said, as the meteorological service predicts continued rainfall until Saturday.
Over 4,400 residents have been evacuated, and 107 cities have declared a state of emergency. In Santa Maria, a major city in the state, a mudslide and a river overflowing its banks have destroyed bridges and roads.
The extreme weather in Rio Grande do Sul follows a series of nine extratropical cyclones in 2023, which have resulted in over 100 fatalities from flooding and mudslides.
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