ALBAWABA - According to the Brazillian Civil Defense Agency, at least 150 people have been killed in heavy rains and flooding that overwhelmed the city of Rio Grande do Sul the past couple of days.
The agency reported 807 injuries, with more than 2 million people affected and 620,000 displaced as a result of the flooding. It also stated that 80,000 people had been rescued from the affected region, and search and rescue activities are still ongoing.
On May 3, Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite described the current situation as "extremely exceptional" and "the most devastating event in the state's history". The state declared a "disaster situation" for 180 days and expended enormous resources to evacuate residents.
According to the National Center for Monitoring and Warning for Natural Disasters (Cemaden), the probability of more flooding is "very high" in the majority of the state's regions.
According to civil defense officials, 132 individuals have been reported missing, and 619,000 have been displaced from their homes as of Sunday evening. The latest threat comes as rescue efforts continue, with over 130 people missing and more than 619,000 forced to flee their homes.
The town of Pelotas, south of Porto Alegre, "is facing a worsening situation" that raises the likelihood of flooding, said Mayor Paula Mascarenhas on Instagram, urging for the evacuation of high-risk zones.
Parts of Porto Alegre, home to 1.4 million people, are also submerged. The National Institute of Meteorology predicts that severe rain will continue for the next few hours, with some locations receiving more than 100 mm per day.
