Southern Brazil hit by floods, over 100 municipalities affected and thousands evacuated

Over 100 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, have been hit by heavy rainfall and flash floods.

The overflowing of several rivers has severely damaged infrastructure and forced residents of many areas to abandon their homes. In total, over 2,000 people have been evacuated across all affected territories.

Lajeado, Estrela, Santa Tereza and Encantado are on maximum alert level, as the Taquari River exceeded the 19-meter mark. Meanwhile, the Caí River, about 60 kilometers from the state capital, Porto Alegre, flooded in the early morning hours, forcing families to move to municipal shelters.

Rescue operations for families trapped in flooded areas are being coordinated by Governor Eduardo Leite and local government leaders. Emergency personnel and heavy trucks have been deployed in the response.

Emergency authorities are particularly concerned about the large amount of water descending from the northern hills towards Porto Alegre, as this could further worsen the situation in the coming days. In cities like Paraí and Ibirapuitã, up to 247 mm of rain has been recorded within a few days, a level that has exceeded the historical average for the entire month of July.

The new crisis has affected a still fragile population that has not recovered from the catastrophic historic floods of May 2024. Those floods caused 184 fatalities and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.