Death toll from floods in Brazil’s south reaches 143, as rain continues to pour

RIO DE JANEIRO – The death toll from heavy rain in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul rose to 143, up from 136 the day before, the local civil defence government body said on May 12, as rain continues to pour on the state.

Another 125 people remain unaccounted for in the state, where rivers are reporting rising levels. Weather service Metsul called the situation “extremely worrying”.

On May 11 evening, the government announced around 12.1 billion reals (S$3.2 billion) in emergency spending to deal with the crisis that has displaced more than 538,000 people in the state, out of a population of around 10.9 million.

With this new money, more than 60 billion reals in federal funds has already been made available to the state, said the federal government in a statement on May 11.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the state will rebuild what was destroyed.

“We know that not everything can be recovered, mothers have lost their children and children have lost their mothers,” said Mr Lula on social media platform X, in a statement to mark Mother’s Day.

On May 11, US President Joe Biden issued a statement saying that his administration is in contact with Brazil’s government to provide assistance.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people impacted by this tragedy and the first responders working to rescue and provide medical care to families and individuals,” said Mr Biden.

More rain fell on May 12 and is expected on May 13. Less than two weeks after the rain began, the state is again on alert, with the risk of water rising once more to record levels on the Guaiba lake, near the state capital Porto Alegre.

Rio Grande do Sul is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rain or drought.

Local scientists believe the pattern has been intensifying due to climate change. REUTERS