Massive flooding in southern Brazil has resulted in at least 75 fatalities and left over 103 people missing as of May 6, according to various sources. The devastating floods have affected more than two-thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the state, displacing over 115,000 people.
The Guaiba River in Porto Alegre reached a record level of 5.33 meters (17.5 feet) on May 6, causing significant damage to infrastructure and leaving more than 400,000 people without power and nearly a third of the state's population without water.
Heavy rains have caused flooding in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state since late April. The floodwaters have destroyed roads and bridges, triggered landslides, and breached dams at small hydroelectric power plants. The National Institute of Meteorology expects another 4 inches to fall on May 7.
The flooding is the latest in a series of weather disasters to hit Brazil this year. An extratropical cyclone wreaked havoc in September 2023, killing at least 27 people and causing significant damage. A week of severe thunderstorms flooded southern Brazil in November 2023, and several municipalities declared a State of Emergency in July 2023 after storms dropped flooding rain.
The governor of Rio Grande do Sur described the current flooding as the worst disaster in the state's history. The state is still recovering from previous floods and is now facing significant challenges to rebuild and provide aid to those affected by this latest disaster.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with volunteers using boats, jet skis, and even swimming to save people stranded on rooftops or in flooded areas. The Brazilian military has also been deployed to assist in the rescue efforts.
The cause of the heavy rains is attributed to El Niño. Climate scientist Suely Araújo warns that extreme weather events will continue to happen more frequently due to human-caused climate change.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Rio Grande do Sul on May 6 with most members of his cabinet to discuss rescue and reconstruction efforts with local authorities. Governor Eduardo Leite has appealed for donations of essential supplies such as mattresses, sheets, and personal hygiene products.
The death toll from the floods could still increase as more than 103 people are reported missing. The state civil defense authority is investigating whether another four deaths are related to the storms.
