Rio Grande do Sul Floods: Dam Collapse Raises Death Toll
More than 30 people have died after days of heavy rain pour in Southern Brazil, leading to massive flooding and the collapse of a hydroelectric dam.
Officials say another 60 people are missing in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Since Saturday, approximately 15,000 residents have evacuated their homes. Over 500,000 individuals are facing power outages and a lack of clean water statewide.
A burst dam unleashed a two-meter wave, exacerbating the flooding and inducing panic. Situated between Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves, the dam's rupture worsened an already dire situation.
The unprecedented weather conditions, characterized by elevated temperatures, humidity, and strong winds, are to blame. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has toured the affected area, pledging support from the federal government.
Earlier, state Governor Eduardo Leite pleaded for urgent assistance, saying that "we need to rescue hundreds of people in dozens of municipalities".
Helicopters have been deployed to search for stranded people.
In some areas, the flooding is so severe that helicopters have been unable to land and have had to winch residents to safety.
In Candelária municipality, residents sought refuge on the rooftops as their homes became inundated with water. Meteorologists anticipate additional rainfall as a cold front traverses the region.
Just last year, over 30 individuals lost their lives in a cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology attributes the heightened intensity and frequency of precipitation to the climatic phenomenon known as El Niño
