The passage of an extratropical cyclone through southern Brazil since last weekend has caused major flooding and the deaths of at least 42 people, with another 25 missing.
According to the latest official bulletin, released on Thursday, the hardest hit region is Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, which saw 41 deaths, five more than the day before, while the other fatality was recorded in the neighboring state . from Santa Catherine.
In Rio Grande do Sul, 10,551 people are still displaced from their homes in the 83 affected municipalities, where floods were recorded that entered homes and destroyed several bridges.
The most affected city is the municipality of Muçum, where 15 people died and nine people were still missing following the flooding of the Taquari River, which flooded the region.
Eight more people were reported missing in the municipality of Arroio do Meio and another eight in Lajeado, according to the latest report from the National Secretariat for Civil Protection and Defense.
At least 16 roads in the region are partially or completely closed due to flooding and bridge damage, while several towns remain isolated.
Brazil’s navy says it is cooperating in rescue efforts of people trapped after they climbed onto the roofs of their houses to save themselves from the flooding.
Rio Grande do Sul’s government declared a state of emergency on Thursday to deal with what is already the biggest natural disaster in the state’s history.
The Civil Defense has issued a new warning for storms, heavy rain, electric shock, flooding and possible hail and strong wind gusts in Rio Grande do Sul for today, due to the passage of a new cold front.
Rio Grande do Sul was already hit by a cyclone in June that killed 16 people, at the time the worst event of its kind in the state’s history.
Source: DN
