Brazil's Flooded South Paralyzed As Waters Remain High
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 14, 2024 | 01:20 AM
Porto Alegre, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th May, 2024) Brazil's flooded south remained paralyzed Monday, with schools and health centers shut and streets cut off as overflowing rivers showed no sign of receding after torrential rains in a disaster that has left 147 dead.
More than two million people have been affected by the flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where towns and part of the regional capital have been under water for about two weeks after being battered by heavy rains.
Regional capital Porto Alegre's international airport remains under water, as do agricultural fields and roads, while more than 360,000 students were not in school.
The latest official figures showed that 127 people were missing, while more than 600,000 had been forced to abandon their homes as rivers burst their banks.
The floods are the latest weather extreme to hit Brazil, after record-breaking forest fires, unprecedented heat waves and drought, and experts have attributed the disaster to climate change exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon.
Rains eased on Monday, but fresh downpours over the weekend in the region had led rivers to swell once again, raising fears of further flooding and damage.
"It is not the moment to return to homes in risk zones," state governor Eduardo Leite told a press conference.
- 'Endless drama' -
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva put off a state visit to Chile this week to focus on the disaster.
The presidency said the trip was delayed due to the "need to monitor the situation linked to flooding in Rio Grande do Sul and coordinate aid to the affected population and reconstruction efforts.
"
The Guaiba, an estuary bordering Porto Alegre which overflows when waters hit three meters, reached a historic high of 5.3 meters last week.
Authorities have warned it could still swell to a new record of 5.6 meters after the weekend deluge.
"We are experiencing the aftermath of an endless drama here in Rio Grande do Sul," the state's deputy governor Gabriel Souza told the Globo broadcaster.
In Porto Alegre, a busting state capital of 1.4 million inhabitants, aid operations continued to deliver food, clean water, medicine and clothing to residents.
This is "the largest logistics operation in the history of the state," said Leite.
Among those seriously affected are about 80 Indigenous communities, according to the Indigenous Missionary Council of Brazil.
The government said Monday it had delivered food kits and drinking water for 240 Indigenous families in the Taquari Valley.
The heavy rains in southern Brazil have also led to the flooding of the Uruguay River which flows between Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Argentine authorities reported some 600 people had to be evacuated in the riverside city of Concordia.
Concordia mayor Francisco Azcue said waters were expected to continue to rise in the coming days.
"Obviously we are going to have more evacuees," he said.
ll/app/sf/tmo/fb/dw
Related Topics
Recent Stories
‘Govt can boost revenues by 40 billion with optimized Tobacco Taxation’
Nawaz Sharif says they are of May 28, and not of May 9
Nawaz Sharif again elected unopposed as PML-N president
New complaint lodged against Imran Khan over alleged ‘hateful narrative’ aga ..
NAB law of 40-day physical remand be withdrawn, says Khawaja Saad
Experience Innovation at Its Best — vivo V30e 5G Now Available in Pakistan
Fiza Ali stuns with her rendition of “Kahani Suno” at London fashion show
PM takes notices of unannounced load-shedding in Pakistan
Spain officially recognizes Palestine today
Nation observing Youm-e-Takbeer today with national zeal
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 May 2024
More Stories From World
-
'We're leaving': Brazilians pack up after repeat floods
16 minutes ago -
Bar terrace in deadly Mallorca collapse was unlicenced: mayor
27 minutes ago -
China expresses serious concern over Israel's air strike on Rafah refugee camp
27 minutes ago -
UK Labour touts pro-business shift as industry figures back party in election
57 minutes ago -
Scorching heat alert: Pakistan advises Hujjaj to guard against heatstroke risks
2 hours ago -
Pakistani students show rich culture heritage at Chinese university
2 hours ago
-
Thai cops seek image boost in brutal martial arts contest
2 hours ago -
Spain, Ireland and Norway recognise Palestinian state
3 hours ago -
US to unveil 'guardrails' needed for carbon markets to succeed
3 hours ago -
Israel again bombs Rafah as Security Council to discuss camp blaze
3 hours ago -
Missile attack damages vessel off Yemen: security firm
3 hours ago -
Deadly Bangladesh cyclone one of longest seen
3 hours ago