Gustavo Garbino/PMPA
Severe flooding continues to wreak havoc in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, affecting 431 out of 497 municipalities. The region has seen unprecedented levels of the Guaíba River, disruption of utilities, and significant casualties.
Casualties and Displacements
- Deaths: 107 confirmed fatalities with an additional death under investigation for weather-related causes.
- Injuries: 754 injuries have been reported.
- Missing Persons: 134 individuals are currently missing.
- Displaced Individuals: The disaster has resulted in 327,105 displaced persons, with 68,519 taking refuge in shelters.
Shelter for families affected by the Guaíba flood at Centro Vida. Location: Centro Vida, Av. Baltazar de Oliveira Garcia – Cesar Lopes/ PMPA
Guaíba River Levels
- Water Levels: Continuous hourly monitoring shows a recent measurement at 4.95 meters, down from a record high of 5.35 meters.
Water Supply Disruptions
- Affected Areas: 452,500 properties across 40 municipalities are without treated water, including the Metropolitan, Northeast, Central, and Sinos regions.
- Specific Impacts: In the Metropolitan region alone, 339,000 properties face water shortages. Other affected regions include the Northeast with 34,000 properties, the Central with 58,000 properties, and the Sinos Valley with 20,000 properties.
- Porto Alegre: Two major water treatment stations remain offline, and others are functioning at reduced capacity.
Julio Ferreira/ PMPA
Electricity Outages
- Extent of Outages: 185,000 clients of CEEE Equatorial are currently without electricity, primarily for safety shutdowns.
- Regional Impact: An additional 192,800 RGE customers are affected, particularly in the Metropolitan, Sinos, Taquari, Rio Pardo, and the Central region.
Notable Rescues
- Animal Rescue: “Caramelo,” a horse, was dramatically rescued after being stranded on a rooftop since Saturday night. The animal is now receiving care at the Ulbra Veterinary Hospital and has shown significant health improvements, able to stand again.
This summary provides an up-to-date report on the ongoing flood crisis in Rio Grande do Sul, capturing the critical impacts on human life, infrastructure, essential services, and a touching example of animal rescue efforts amid disaster.
Those outside Brazil can also help the population affected by the climate catastrophe in RS. How to donate:
EuroZone
Standard Chartered Bank Frankfurt Bank
Swift: SCBLDEFX
Bank Account: 007358304
Dollar Zone
Standard Chartered Bank New York Bank
Swift: SCBLUS33
Bank Account: 3544032986001
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Standard Chartered Bank – London, UK
Swift: SCBLGB2L
Bank Account: 01251596201
For both banks, please additionally inform:
IBAN Code: BR5392702067001000645423206C1
Name: Associação dos Bancos no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
CNPJ: 92.958.800/0001-38
For donations over USD 10,000.00 or operational clarifications, see:
[email protected]
Verno Kirst f. 55 51 32152928
Edoardo Rossi f. 55 51 32152548
Other international accounts will soon be provided through Banco do Brasil.
