Brazil’s Southern Region Faces Devastating Floods After Days of Heavy Rain | WPN World People News

The southern region of Brazil has been hit by continuous heavy rain, resulting in the most severe flooding in over 80 years. According to statistics, nearly a hundred people have lost their lives, and more than 200,000 people have been displaced. On the 6th of May, the Brazilian federal government declared a state of public disaster in the affected area and is actively providing aid and working on reconstruction efforts.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul, located at Brazil’s southernmost tip, has experienced record-breaking rainfall, with some river water levels surpassing historical records dating back to 1941.

The situation has led to widespread flooding, leaving over 408,000 users without electricity, 548,000 households without water, and numerous roads and bridges closed or collapsed throughout the state. Salgado Filho Airport has also been shut down. Additionally, six dams are at risk of breaching, prompting the state government to issue evacuation warnings to residents.

Eduardo Leite, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, has emphasized the severity of the disaster and the need for a reconstruction assistance plan similar to the post-World War II “Marshall Plan.” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has committed federal resources to rapidly restore the state’s infrastructure. On the 6th of May, the state was officially declared a public disaster area, and the National Congress authorized additional funding of 1.6 billion Brazilian reais (approximately 10.1 billion New Taiwan dollars) for relief efforts, with defense and civil resources being deployed to assist the affected region.

Unfortunately, the Brazilian meteorological agency predicts that heavy rain and strong winds will persist in the state from the 8th to the 12th of May, further complicating rescue operations.