Southern Brazil floods claim 57 lives, displace 70,000
In southern Brazil, devastating floods and mudslides have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 57 lives and forced nearly 70,000 people to flee their homes, according to the country’s civil defense agency.
“The dad, the mother and their little son were martyred,” said Abdelmoneim Chukair, the municipality chief of Mays al-Jabal, describing the impact of an Israeli strike on a village that claimed the lives of three civilians.
“The situation is absolutely unprecedented, the worst in the history of our state,” declared Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul, emphasizing the need for substantial investment akin to a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild after this catastrophe.
“The speed of the rising waters unnerved us. It rose at a very high speed,” recounted Greta Bittencourt, a resident affected by the flooding, reflecting on the terrifying experience.
“I have no communication with anybody, I’m very shaken,” expressed Joao Guilherme, a resident who found his way to safety in the state capital but lost contact with loved ones amidst the chaos.
“It’s terrifying because we saw the water rise in an absurd way,” said Greta Bittencourt, a professional poker player, expressing her fear as the floodwaters surged unexpectedly.
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“In many places, long lines formed as people tried to board buses,” observed an AFP journalist, highlighting the chaotic scenes as residents sought evacuation amid the crisis.
“We are facing a disastrous cocktail of global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon,” explained climatologist Francisco Eliseu Aquino, attributing the devastating storms to the effects of climate change.
“As waters started to overtop a dike along the Gravatai River, communities must leave!” warned Mayor Sebastiao Malo, urging residents to prioritize safety amid rising floodwaters.
“The rains also affected the southern state of Santa Catarina, where one man died Friday when his car was swept away by raging floodwaters,” reported civil defense agencies, underscoring the widespread impact of the disaster across multiple regions.
“Our state would need a ‘Marshall Plan’ of heavy investment to rebuild after the catastrophe,” emphasized Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul, highlighting the scale of reconstruction required in the aftermath of the floods.
As rescue efforts continue and communities grapple with the aftermath of this disaster, attention turns to the urgent need for assistance and long-term strategies to mitigate the impact of future events.
