Floods in Brazil already leave 137 dead

The number of deaths due to the storms that hit the south of Brazil causing floods never seen before in the region There are now 137 victims, according to the latest report released this Saturday by the Civil Defense.

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At least 141 people remain missingwhile more than 400,000 have been displaced, of which around 340,000 have had to take refuge in the homes of friends and family and around 71,000 in improvised shelters by the authorities.

In total, there are already 444 cities affected and 1,950,000 people affected by the storms in the region.

The most dramatic situation is in Rio Grande do Sul, a state bordering Argentina and Uruguay, where at least 136 deaths and 756 injuries have been reported.

The other deceased was reported in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, also affected by the catastrophe, but to a lesser extent.

The rains that had given a slight respite since Thursday resumed their intensity this Saturday, especially in the Vale of Taquarí, one of the most affected regions in the last week, and in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.

The storms that have punished the region since the end of April They have left a trail of chaos and destruction in which dozens of cities have been left totally or partially under water, as is the case of Porto Alegre.

Hundreds of roads have been destroyed or blocked and the victims suffer from the lack of public services; Hospitals are overwhelmed and without adequate conditions to care for patients.

The situation has also made the work of the nearly 28,000 troops – including firefighters, security forces and volunteers – who help in rescues and distribute humanitarian aid difficult.

In the last few hours, new cities were taken over by the waters after the overflow of the Lagoa dos Patos, where the waters are already one and a half meters above normal.

The situation may worsen in the coming hours, where in addition to heavy rains, strong winds and a drastic drop in temperature are expected.

Rio Grande do Sul, an important agricultural hub and a fundamental sector for the country’s growth, will need at least 18,839 million reais (3,700 million dollars or 3,400 million euros) to recover from the floods, according to calculations by the regional government. .

For the moment, the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced an aid package of 50,000 million reais ($9.8 billion) for that state, which includes direct assistance measures, subsidized loans for companies and aid for rural producers, among others.

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