Southern Brazil is reeling from the devastating impact of a powerful cyclone that unleashed torrential rain and fierce winds, leaving at least 27 people dead. Rio Grande do Sul’s governor declared it the state’s most catastrophic weather event in history. Thousands of residents have been displaced from their homes as relentless flooding continues to threaten the region.
In the town of Mucum, with a population of 5,000, approximately 85% of the town was submerged, prompting dramatic rooftop rescues for hundreds of stranded residents. The calamity prompted an urgent response from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who pledged federal assistance to the beleaguered region. He reassured the affected communities, stating, “Where there is a problem, the federal government will be there to save people from these problems.”
Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul provided a grim update, announcing the discovery of 15 more bodies in Mucum on Tuesday, pushing the death toll to 21. The disaster unfolded rapidly, with over 300mm (11 inches) of rainfall inundating the state in less than 24 hours, triggering widespread floods and perilous landslides. Mayor Mateus Trojan of Mucum expressed grave concern, noting, “There are still people missing. The death toll might climb higher. The town of Mucum as we knew it no longer exists.”
Rescue operations have been fraught with challenges, necessitating the use of helicopters to reach areas isolated by floodwaters. In Nova Bassano, further north, residents like Dirce Reginatto are grappling with profound loss. She lamented, “There are many people who lost much more, but here at home I have nothing left.”
Luana Da Luz, a resident of Passo Fundo, shared her harrowing experience, recounting how they had watched the rising waters throughout the day. “We were already putting things on top of the table, on top of the wood stove, but it didn’t help,” she said.
The catastrophe underscores the increasing vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events linked to climate change. While numerous factors contribute to flooding, a warming atmosphere exacerbates the likelihood of extreme rainfall. The world has already witnessed a temperature increase of approximately 1.2°C since the onset of the industrial era, and the trajectory indicates that temperatures will continue to rise unless governments worldwide take substantial steps to reduce emissions.
This tragedy follows previous flooding disasters in Brazil, including the loss of at least 40 lives due to flooding and landslides in São Paulo state in February. Moreover, last year, torrential rain triggered landslides and massive mudflows near the city of Recife in the country’s northeast, claiming the lives of at least 100 people.
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