Brazil - Thousands displaced, 37 dead after storms and floods in Rio Grande Do Sul (UPDATES)

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:32 UTC

© Município de Nova Bassano

Floods in Nova Bassano, Rio Grande do Sol, Brazil, September 2023.

Severe weather over the last few days has taken its toll on areas of Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil where authorities report hundreds of people have been evacuated and at least 4 people have lost their lives.

Strong winds, hail and heavy rain have affected the state over the last few days. State authorities reported multiple locations recorded more than 200 mm of rain in a 72-hour period to 04 September, including Passo Fundo (291.6 mm), Água Santa (221.6 mm), Ijuí (217.6 mm), Entre-Ijuís (207.4 mm) and Vacaria (202.2 mm).

Severe flooding has impacted communities in the municipalities of Santo Expedito do Sul, Lajeado do Bugre, Nova Bassano, São Jorge, Bento Gonçalves, Caxias do Sul and Ibiraiaras, among others. Further flooding is expected as river levels are high and in some cases still rising. State Civil Defence issued flood warnings for communities living close to the Antas, Taquari and Caí rivers.

State authorities confirmed that four people have lost their lives as a result of the severe weather. One person died in Mato Castelhano after attempting to cross the Piraçuce river. A second fatality occurred in Passo Fundo, where a man suffered an electric shock. Two people died after their car was dragged by flood water when crossing a bridge in Ibiraiaras.

Over 200 homes have been damaged by either strong winds, hail or flooding. At one point over 350 people had evacuated their homes. Civil Defence said this figure had started to fall as of late 04 September.

Roads have been blocked in at least 10 locations across the state.

The Nova Bassano municipality is among the areas hardest hit by flooding following the overflow of the Sabiá River. Around 35 homes have been damaged and 90 people displaced. Around 30 homes were damaged by flooding in São Jorge municipality, where 40 people were displaced.

© Município de Nova Bassano

Floods in Nova Bassano, Rio Grande do Sol, Brazil, September 2023.

Comment: Update September 6

Reuters reports:

Cyclone rains in Brazil's south kill 22, leave cities completely flooded

An extratropical cyclone has been battering southern Brazil, flooding homes, swelling rivers and claiming the lives of nearly two dozen people, state authorities said on Tuesday.

Luana da Luz is among hundreds of Brazilians who have packed up their belongings in an effort to escape the rising waters.

"Since dawn, we saw that (the water) was going to flood (our house) and we were putting things on top of the table, on top of the wood stove, but it didn't help," said Da Luz, a resident of the town of Passo Fundo in the southern state of Rio Grande Sul, where state authorities have confirmed the deaths of 21 people.

Video obtained by Reuters showed houses in Mucum submerged by rising water, while streets and rivers were also flooded.

Dozens of homes had their roofs damaged by a hailstorm and hundreds of people are without contact in Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazil's federal government has announced some measures to respond to the disaster, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised his government would do whatever is necessary to "save people from these problems."

"I feel devastated. I lost everything," said Dice Reginatto, from the city of Nova Bassano in Rio Grande do Sul. "There are many people who lost much more, but here at home I have nothing left."

Update September 7

Floodlist reports:

The flood situation has deteriorated in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, where the governor, Eduardo Leite, has now declared a state of emergency.

Heavy rain fell in the state from 02 September. As of 05 September, at least 4 people had lost their lives and around 350 people were displaced from their homes.

The state's Civil Defence warned of further flooding. Rising rivers, swollen by further heavy rain, resulted in severe flooding in multiple parts of the state, in particular in the Caí and Taquari river basins.

Visiting affected areas on 06 September, Governor Eduardo Leite described the situation as "devastating".

"We saw communities completely submerged. It's heartbreaking, there's a lot of destruction. I had to hold back the tears at times. And we know that more deaths can be seen. This situation hurts and touches us. But we must stand firm to give all the support to the population", said the governor.

The state government has so far confirmed 37 fatalities, including 14 in Muçum, 9 in Roca Sales, 3 in Lajeado, 2 in Estrela, 2 in Ibiraiaras, 3 in Cruzeiro do Sul, 1 in Mato Castelhano, 1 in Passo Fundo, 1 in Encantado and 1 in Santa Tereza.

State Civil Defence said floods and storms have impacted communities in 79 municipalities. A total of 56,787 people have been affected, with 5,894 people displaced.