Parliament expresses “deep regret” for flood victims in southern Brazil

This Thursday, Parliament unanimously approved condolences for the victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, expressing “full solidarity” with the people of the region.

The vote, presented by the President of Parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, states that “the severe floods ravaging the Rio Grande do Sul region in Brazil have resulted in several casualties since they began on the 27th. April”.

“Besides the capital Porto Alegre, 417 of the region’s 497 municipalities were affected. (…) The death toll grew every day and now exceeds a hundred. There are still several wounded, missing and homeless. “, it says if.

The text also states that “authorities estimate that the total number of casualties already stands at one million four hundred thousand” and that hurricanes continue to be felt in the region, “which is worrying and could lead to even greater drama.” “.

“In this sense, the President of the Assembly of the Republic invites the Assembly of the Republic to express its deepest regret for all the victims of this tragedy and to express its full solidarity with the people of Rio Grande do Sul,” the document says. .

According to information published this Thursday, the death toll from floods in southern Brazil confirmed by authorities has risen to 108, with 136 missing.

Civil defense in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which was hit hardest by the storm, said 107 people had died in incidents related to heavy rains and that it was still investigating another death. Authorities in the state of Santa Catarina confirmed one death.

Rio Grande do Sul authorities said 136 people were missing and 374 injured due to floods that directly affected about 1.5 million people and more than 80% of the state.

There are more than 67 thousand people in shelters created to accommodate people displaced from flooded and dangerous areas, and 164,583 people remain homeless.

425 of Rio Grande do Sul’s 497 municipalities have registered problems related to the biggest climate disaster to hit the Brazilian state.

Hundreds of police, firefighters, soldiers and volunteers continue to work hard to rescue people who are still isolated by high water levels and beginning to suffer from food shortages.

Intensifying rain over the past few hours has forced the suspension of rescue efforts in Porto Alegre, the capital of the Rio Grande do Sul region, where neighborhoods are still completely flooded and the main airport will be closed until at least the end of this month.

The severe storm began on Monday last week and continued in the following days, causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, homes and leaving much of the population of Rio Grande do Sul without electricity or drinking water.

Rio Grande do Sul, with a population of 11 million, has been hit hard by climate change. After experiencing severe drought caused by La Niña last year, the region began to be affected by El Niño and recorded four climate disasters caused by extratropical cyclones and storms in less than 12 months.