Floods in southern Brazil have already killed 24 people

The preliminary death toll from the severe floods that hit the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the far south of that country, rose this Thursday afternoon to 24. This number must be surpassed because rescue teams have not yet managed to reach some of the worst affected areas, where the highest number of deaths are estimated to have occurred.

Another 21 people were missing Thursday afternoon and at least 8,500 residents were left homeless, according to Civil Defense’s latest partial report. At the same time, 550,000 residents across the state were left without potable water in their homes and 271,000 properties were without power.

In the last 24 hours, eight of the world’s ten cities were hit hardest by rain in Rio Grande do Sul, giving an idea of ​​the scale of the tragedy. Armed Forces personnel are trying to help, especially with boats, speedboats and helicopters, but regional government sources complain that the number of troops and equipment sent by the central government falls short of what would be needed in a widespread disaster situation.

Firefighters from other Brazilian states are sending reinforcements by land and air, mostly teams specialized in rescuing victims of natural disasters, reinforced by tracking dogs. President Lula da Silva traveled from Brasilia to the city of Santa Maria, one of the worst hit by severe floods, accompanied by his wife and a large delegation of ministers and announced that he would fly over the flooded areas, but the trip backfired. an effect that the president wanted as it was considered more political than practical, and the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, even stated on social media that the tragedy that befell his state required more than just overflights.