The state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil is reeling from a series of catastrophic floods that have claimed the lives of at least 78 people, according to the state’s Civil Defense Unit. The floods have also left 175 individuals injured and 105 people missing, with a significant number of residents displaced from their homes.
Reports indicate that over 844,000 people across 341 municipalities have been affected by the flooding, with more than 115,000 individuals forced to evacuate to safer locations. Tragically, there are accounts from local residents and evacuees of additional casualties still in the floodwaters, suggesting that the death toll may continue to rise.
Col. José Carlos Sallet, subcommander of Rio Grande do Sul Military Firefighters, revealed that around 1,000 firefighters are actively engaged in rescue operations to save as many lives as possible. Despite the challenging conditions, rescue teams have been conducting operations to evacuate individuals using inflatable rafts, including rescuing pets along with people.
The devastating images from the affected areas depict muddy brown waters submerging rooftops, underscoring the severity of the situation. Rio Grande do Sul has faced a series of extreme weather events in recent years, with a sub-tropical cyclone in September claiming the lives of 54 individuals in the state.
The escalating climate crisis, largely driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, is exacerbating extreme weather patterns globally. This phenomenon is intensifying the frequency and severity of natural disasters, making events like the catastrophic floods in Rio Grande do Sul more common.
