Brazil floods latest updates: So far 56 people have died due to floods and landslides after heavy rains in South Africa. Apart from this, thousands of people have become homeless. News agency . quoting Al Jazeera has written that rescue and relief work is going on continuously. Rescue workers are trying to find people buried under the debris of houses, roads and ponds. There are reports that the water level in Rio Grande do Sul has increased so much that the load on the dam is increasing. In some cities there is a fear that it has taken over.
Governor Eduardo Leite has declared a state of emergency in the area. He said that ‘we are fighting against the biggest terrorism ever in our history. He warned that the death toll could increase further. On the other hand, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has assured full support to the affected areas. He said that there will be no shortage of human and material resources.
More danger looms ahead
Weather forecasters have told people to be on the lookout for more storms. They say that the main river of the state, Guaiba, may reach the danger mark and this may further increase the existing tragedy. According to reports, many areas have been completely cut off. Continuous heavy rains have adversely affected the infrastructure there. The situation is so bad that the government has asked people living in high-risk areas to move out. Basic facilities like drinking water have also been affected.
climate change impact
Experts believe that flooding and soil erosion have become a pattern in Brazil. According to him, the main reason behind this is climate change.
70,000 people were evacuated
Nearly 70,000 people have been forced to flee their homes after deadly floods, landslides and a massive storm surge hit southern Brazil, including the main city Porto Alegre, Brazil’s civil protection agency said Saturday. Civil Defense said 57 people were killed, 74 were injured and 67 others were missing in the floodwaters.
The death toll does not include two people who died in the explosion at a flooded gas station in Porto Alegre, which was witnessed by an AFP journalist. Rapidly rising water levels in Rio Grande do Sul state were putting pressure on dams and particularly threatening Porto Alegre, an economically important city of 1.4 million.
