Record highs delay start of classes in Rio Grande do Sul where floods linked to climate crisis left 180 dead last May During historic floods last May that left more than 180 dead in Brazil’s southernmost state the water rose to the ceiling of the Olindo Flores school in the city of São Leopoldo When classes resumed more than a month later its 500 students had to be relocated to another school for months they were due to start the new school year but could not do so – this time because of an intense heatwave affecting the state The start of the school year was pushed back after a court ruling on behalf of a teachers’ union which had argued that classrooms lacked adequate ventilation and water supplies for students the highest temperatures recorded in Brazilian cities have all been in Rio Grande do Sul a state which is normally milder than other Brazilian regions closer to the equator Marina Hirota, a scientist and professor of meteorology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, said that while it was still too early for in-depth analyses of the current heatwave, both it and last year’s floods are “potentially linked to the climate crisis”. Read more“These extreme events – heatwaves, cold spells and intense flooding like what happened in Rio Grande do Sul in 2024 followed now by an extreme drought – are becoming more frequent and more intense … and this frequency and intensity are the result of the climate crisis,” she said Olindo Flores school in São Leopoldo was one of the few that had air conditioning but the equipment was lost in last year’s floods and has not yet been replaced during reconstruction and there were some hot days – but nothing like this – and it was already difficult for teachers and students,” said Luiz Henrique Becker On Sunday, after the union’s request, a judge suspended the start of classes for at least a week. The government appealed, and yesterday, an appellate judge ruled that classes could resume on Thursday, when a cold front is expected to arrive. “We will keep fighting for the government to install air conditioning in all schools because new heatwaves will happen,” said Rosane Zan, president of the teachers’ union. Hirota, who is also a researcher with a tropical ecology group at the Serrapilheira Institute, said: “Last year, we had the floods, and now, we get this extreme heat immediately after … We’re becoming less and less able to predict these events because they never used to happen this way … For the living beings in these places – whether humans, animals or plants – it’s also becoming ever more difficult to adapt to such abrupt changes.” Reporting by Ana Mano and Roberto Samora; Editing by Sandra Maler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved A man rows a makeshift boat through an inundated street flooded by heavy rains The city of Porto Alegre is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre Cars sit on a submerged road in an area flooded by heavy rain in Porto Alegre Gas cylinders float in flood water at a gas distribution center after heavy rains in Canoas Beira Rio stadium is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre Residents stand on their balcony over a flooded street after heavy rain in Canoas Vehicles travel along a lateral highway restored to allow the movement of humanitarian aid for those affected by floods caused by heavy rains Cars are surrounded by flooded streets after heavy rain in Canoas Volunteers transport donated supplies through a flooded street after heavy rains in Porto Alegre A man wades through an area flooded by heavy rains The environmental catastrophe — unprecedented in state history — upended transportation including the airport in the capital Porto Alegre which is expected to remain shuttered for months Segments of major highways are closed due to landslides Eduardo Leite has said Rio Grande do Sul will need a “kind of ‘Marshall Plan’ to be rebuilt,” although an exact strategy to do so in a way that reduces future climate disasters has yet to be determined a shopkeeper in Porto Alegre who has owned his store for 18 years It is very sad to go through a situation like this after so many years of work,” the 50-year-old said Most of the state’s 497 municipalities have been affected and financial losses already amount to 10 billion reais ($1.9 billion) the National Confederation of Municipalities estimated earlier this month Some 94% of the state’s economic activity has been disrupted in some way according to an estimate last week by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul “An infinite number of companies have had their premises completely disrupted the logistical problems are likely to have a significant affect on all of the state’s economic activity,” it said in a preliminary study May 13 The most-affected regions include Porto Alegre and the state’s northeast Serra region The heavy rains also thrashed the Rio Pardo and Taquari valleys Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 12.6% of the nation’s powerhouse agricultural GDP Almost 70% of Brazil’s rice and 13% of dairy products come from the state according to a S&P Global report May 13 “It often takes 10 years for a flooded municipality to return to its prior level of economic activity,” said Gustavo Pinheiro a senior associate at the climate change think tank E3G The human toll of the rains is at least 163 lost lives so far More than 640,000 have been forced from their homes including 65,000 who are sheltering in schools and gymnasiums Brazil’s federal government has announced a package of 50.9 billion reais ($10 billion) for employees But as time passes and the water levels remain high the amount needed to rebuild continues to rise He estimated it could reach 120 billion reais ($29 billion) the cost to the federal budget comes as public debt as a percentage of GDP has been rising which might make Brazil less attractive to investors an economist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation said that should not be held against the flooded region “The federal government cannot refrain from supporting a state that was completely devastated just because the financial market thinks there is a fiscal risk,” Beni said The heavy rains that caused flooding can mostly be ascribed to human-driven climate change according to an assessment published on May 10 by ClimaMeter a scientific climate modeling team at Paris-Saclay University in France This month’s flood was the fourth Rio Grande do Sul suffered in a year September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total flood-related disasters across the planet have increased by 134% over the two previous decades according to a 2021 report by the World Meteorological Organization Countries have invested in huge infrastructure projects to prevent flood damage the federal government spent $14.5 billion on pumps leading to a significant reduction in the damage caused by Hurricane Ida in 2021 Tokyo’s authorities spent billions on an underground drainage channel in the metropolitan area Others tout the concept of “sponge cities,” which aim to transform urban areas into natural parks that improve drainage and reduce flooding risks President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a law suspending Rio Grande do Sul’s debt repayment for three years Funds that would have repaid debt to the federal government must instead be used to combat and reduce the damage caused by the floods Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said his ministry will help large companies in the state recover the state will need to rebuild in a way that reduces vulnerability Rio Grande do Sul built dikes in the aftermath of massive flooding in 1941 but those proved insufficient this year due to a lack of maintenance A group of experts has already called for more robust flood control Homes and businesses may also need to relocate away from the coast and riverbanks Politicians from Rio Grande do Sul and the federal government are also clashing over response to the crisis and reconstruction While the leftist ruling government is studying a possible canal to speed water flowing out from the Patos Lagoon to the sea right-of-center Leite has said the project would be “very difficult to carry out” and may inflict damage on ecosystems The state must pass legislation protecting the state’s environment “Climate denialist policies that favor dismantling environmental laws exact a very high price,” she said “Rio Grande do Sul will experience these tragedies every two or three years There won’t be time to rebuild before it is flooded again.” Associated Press writer Lucas Dumphreys contributed to this report Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the United States’ role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraine’s politics UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders and activists from Ukraine and the global community MENASource offers the latest news from across the Middle East and independent analysis from fellows and staff Econographics provides an in-depth look at trends in the global economy utilizing state-of-the-art data visualization tools and more than half a million are displaced impacting more than two million people in the state The ongoing flooding in Rio Grande do Sul is an unfortunate example of the urgent need for countries to focus on adaptation measures to climate change Brazil has a unique opportunity to drive these commitments forward as it hosts the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders’ Summit in November and the United Nations Climate Change Conference when a heat wave exacerbated intense storms and major flooding The region is prone to weather-related disasters, and the current flooding has been linked to the periodic El Niño weather phenomenon. In the past few decades, the state’s capital city, Porto Alegre, has adapted to control the extent of the impact of torrential rains on the city the infrastructure in place must be updated to the new reality of extreme weather events which are more intense due to climate change Designing suitable financial instruments for resilient infrastructure with support from international and domestic financial institutions will be crucial about 90 percent of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul were impacted by the rain and flooding Brazilians are bearing the immediate brunt of these floods There will also be implications for global trade and food security in the weeks and months ahead Rio Grande do Sul is an important state for Brazil. It represents 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the fifth largest state GDP in the country. A major agribusiness state it accounts for 70 percent of Brazil’s rice production It is a significant producer of soybeans—of which Brazil is a leading producer and exporter—and an important meat-producing state And while in Rio Grande do Sul rain continues to fall farmers are suffering through a winter drought Valentina Sader is a deputy director at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, where she leads the Center’s work on Brazil, gender equality and diversity, and manages the Center’s Advisory Council. Image: A drone view shows a flooded city center after people were evacuated in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Renan Mattos Sign up to receive expert analysis from our community on the most important global issues, rapid insights on events as they unfold, and highlights of the Council's best work. © 2025 Atlantic CouncilAll rights reserved. If refreshing the page doesn't resolve the issue you could try clearing the sites browser cache. torrential rainstorms and floods have battered the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul causing severe damage to museums and heritage sites throughout the region According to a Brazilian Ministry of Culture’s recently formed task force launched to determine the impact of this historic rainfall more than 50 of the 378 museums registered in the state have suffered structural damage caused by rain and flooding; nearly 100 municipalities have reported damage to archaeological sites theatres and art and historical collections Almost all of Rio Grande do Sul’s municipalities—467 out of 497—have been affected, with some almost completely submerged. Nearly 650,000 people have lost their homes, and there have been over 165 recorded deaths, including from a recent outbreak of the waterborne disease leptospirosis the Brazilian government released a federal aid package equivalent to almost $10bn for the state and an estimated 90% of businesses in Rio Grande do Sul have reported partial or total losses A budget for cultural projects has not been announced but disruptions to the cultural calendar are expected for the foreseeable future Last week, the Mercosul Biennial in the state capital of Porto Alegre one of the largest biennials in South America which was slated to open in September across various spaces that have already suspended operations indefinitely “The biennial will take place at the right time to revive the artistic sector and attract visitors back to the capital,” its organisers said in a statement Porto Alegre’s Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana (CCMQ) an arts centre consisting of several museums and commercial spaces began the inspection of its buildings last week when the waters receded and it was possible to enter its grounds on foot CCMQ is still assessing the damage but confirms that the interior and exterior of the main building will need to be repainted and its wooden frames and doors water tanks and furniture that could not be removed in time will need to be replaced Commercial spaces on the ground floor of CCMQ’s buildings have been particularly affected The bookstore Livraria Taverna’s books were first moved to upper floors but have since been placed in separate facilities to limit exposure to humidity and rising waters And there is still no electricity to verify damage to electrical equipment in the three cinemas that make up the Cinemateca Paulo Amorim which was submerged under half a metre of water Inspectors confirmed that all of its carpets air-conditioning units and 260 seats will need to be replaced; mud and humidity in the theatre have prevented inspectors from determining the full extent of the damage Flooding at Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana (CCMQ) in Porto Alegre, Brazil Image: Secretaria da Cultura do RS via Facebook CCMQ will reopen and resume its public programming “as soon as possible to maintain the work of numerous artists, technicians and cultural agents who keep the creative chain alive and who depend on it for their livelihood”, Germana Konrath, the director of the centre, tells The Art Newspaper. “We have always been an important open space for meetings and exchanges, and this becomes even more relevant at this time.” Elsewhere in the city, the museum Fundação Iberê Camargo confirms that its basement was emptied of works of art before the floods. Likewise at the cultural centre Farol Santander Porto Alegre, which only suffered damage to its ground-level restaurant and gift shop. Exhibitions have been closed indefinitely, and all events scheduled through June have been postponed. Southern Brazil has experienced a 30% increase in average rainfall in the past three decades, according to a recent climate report. The report also found a lack of public policies in Brazil to mitigate the effects of climate change—a new overarching focus of the administration of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. which the Brazilian leader claims enables corruption news28 June 2024Belém adds two new museums as the Brazilian city prepares to host Cop30The Centro Cultural Bienal das Amazônias and Museu das Amazônias join the cultural scene of Brazil's gateway city to the Amazon news1 April 2025Museums in southern Brazil still recovering after last year’s floodsDamage and destruction decimated visitor numbers to cultural events and institutions last year but optimism is high they will return in 2025 Amid melee at Rio's National Museum, museology students begin project to digitise the institution This report has been produced with the support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), covering the period from 13 July to 18 September. This report is the last report produced in relation to the emergency, unless the situation warrants additional reporting based on a deterioration of the humanitarian conditions in the country. • UNHCR, IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF and OHCHR have launched the local task force on Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) to boost efforts on prevention and response against sexual misconduct in the emergency response. This initiative was reinforced by the official visit of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Mr. Christian Saunders, to Porto Alegre in late August. • Although water access has resumed to normality, concerns remain in the population in relation to the potability of the water supply. UNICEF has coordinated with Vigiagua (Water Quality Department) and DMAE (Water and Sanitation Municipal Department) to disseminate the results of water analysis to the population. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 88,000 people from their homes. Residents evacuate from a neighborhood flooded by heavy rains, in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) People evacuate on a surfboard from a neighborhood flooded by heavy rains, in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) A soldier helps a woman evacuate from a neighborhood flooded by heavy rains, in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 88,000 people from their homes. Approximately 16,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. The floods left a wake of devastation, including landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges across the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. More than 800,000 people are without a water supply, according to the civil defense agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan. A rescue team pulled an elderly man in serious medical condition into a helicopter from a remote area in the Bento Gonçalves municipality, according to footage from military firefighters. Torrents of brown water poured over a nearby dam. On Saturday evening, residents in the town of Canoas stood up to their shoulders in muddy water and formed a human chain to pull boats carrying people to safety, according to video footage shared by local UOL news network. The Guaiba river reached a record level of 5.33 meters (17.5 feet) on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. local time, surpassing levels seen during a historic 1941 deluge, when the river reached 4.76 meters. “I repeat and insist: the devastation to which we are being subjected is unprecedented,” state Gov. Eduardo Leite said Sunday morning. He had previously said the state will need a “kind of ‘Marshall Plan’ to be rebuilt.” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Rio Grande do Sul for a second time on Sunday, accompanied by Defense Minister José Múcio, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Environment Minister Marina Silva, among others. The leftist leader and his team surveyed the flooded streets of Porto Alegre from a helicopter. “We need to stop running behind disasters. We need to see in advance what calamities might happen and we need to work,” Lula told journalists afterwards. During Sunday mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was praying for the state’s population. “May the Lord welcome the dead and comfort their families and those who had to abandon their homes,” he said. The downpour started Monday and was expected to last through Sunday. In some areas, such as valleys, mountain slopes and cities, more than 300 millimeters (11.8 inches) of rain fell in less than a week, according to Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology, known by the Portuguese acronym INMET, on Thursday. The heavy rains were the fourth such environmental disaster in the state in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people. “These tragedies will continue to happen, increasingly worse and more frequent,” said Suely Araújo, a public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, a network of dozens of environmental and social groups. Brazil needs to adjust to the effects of climate change, she said in a Friday statement, referring to a process known as adaptation. Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment Volunteers carry an elderly man rescued from an area flooded by heavy rain in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Volunteers help to evacuate residents from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Volunteers gather in order to help residents evacuate from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Residents are evacuated in a military vehicle from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) This combination of images released by Maxar Technologies shows the before and after views of flooding of areas around Gremio Arena, Porto Alegre, Brazil, May 7, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP) The Beira Rio stadium and surrounding area is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) This combination of images released by Maxar Technologies shows the before and after views of flooding along Taquari River, Taquari, Brazil. Sept. 15,2024, top, May 7, 2024, bottom. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies via AP) View of an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) A man rows a makeshift boat through an inundated street flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Volunteers push a wheelchair transporting a resident evacuated from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A fleet of vehicles sit partially submerged in flood waters caused by heavy rains, in a parking lot near the international airport in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A volunteer reacts during a search and rescue operation from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A resident carries his pets as he evacuates from a flooded area after heavy rain in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Volunteers evacuate residents from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A member of the Civil Defense carries a child rescued from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Vehicles sit partially submerged at an Audi car dealership, after heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) A bicyclist wades through a street flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) A civil firefighter helps a resident evacuated from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) People rest in a shelter after their homes were flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Efforts were continuing to rescue people stranded by the floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 others missing. The capital, Porto Alegre, has been virtually cut off, with the airport and bus station closed and main roads blocked because of the floodwaters. (AP video/Lucas Dumphreys) Brazil’s southern city of Porto Alegre has been virtually cut off, with the airport and bus station closed and main roads blocked due to a massive flooding that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 missing in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. (UGC Video by Regis Silva @sulnalente) PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — The mayor of a major city in southern Brazil on Tuesday pleaded with residents to comply with his water rationing decree, given that some four-fifths of the population is without running water, a week after major flooding that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 others missing. Yoga teacher Maria Vitória Jorge’s apartment building in downtown Porto Alegre is flooded, so she’s leaving it behind, having withdrawn about 8,000 reais ($1,600) from her savings to rent an apartment for herself and her parents elsewhere in the state. “I can’t shower at home, wash the dishes or even have drinkable water,” the 35-year-old Jorge said in her car as she prepared to travel. She had just a gallon of water for the 200-kilometer (125-mile) drive to the city of Torres, so far unaffected by the floods. Five of the Porto Alegre’s six water treatment facilities aren’t working, and Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastião Melo on Monday decreed that water be used exclusively for “essential consumption.” “We are living an unprecedented natural disaster and everyone needs to help,” Melo told journalists. “I am getting water trucks to soccer fields and people will have to go there to get their water in bottles. I cannot get them to go home to home.” The most urgent need is drinking water, but food and personal hygiene products are also in short supply. Other Brazilian states are mobilizing trucks with donations bound for Rio Grande do Sul. There were long lines and empty shelves at supermarkets in Porto Alegre on Tuesday. Some people have tried to buy bottled water since the weekend, and when they could find it, their purchases were limited to two five-liter (1.3-gallon) bottles. Public health experts say there is also growing risk of disease as much of the region remains submerged, warning that cases of dengue fever and leptospirosis, a bacterial disease, in particular could rise sharply within days. Adriano Hueck on Tuesday was attempting to retrieve medicine stocked at a friend’s warehouse, which is partially flooded. “If we can save some of it, there’s still a chance it can be useful in hospitals,” said 53-year-old Hueck, who then pointed toward another part of the city. “My house is somewhere there. You can’t even see its roof now.” Like Jorge, the yoga teacher, residents in Rio Grande do Sul who are able to flee are doing so, amid fears of shortage and disease. However, it’s difficult for many to leave Porto Alegre with main access roads blocked by floodwaters. The city’s airport and main bus terminal are filled with water and closed for the foreseeable future. Close to the airport, about 100 people of a nearby slum set up tents on the road, hoping to return to their shacks on small boats to try to save some of their belongings. Some roasted chunks of meat on improvised grills. The downpour has stopped for now, but a looming cold front will bring more severe rain starting Tuesday night, mainly in the southern part of the state, according to the National Meteorological Institute. Rainfall could exceed 150 millimeters (nearly six inches) by early Wednesday. Late Monday, Rio Grande do Sul Gov. Eduardo Leite issued an alert for several cities close to the huge Patos Lagoon. The floodwaters in Porto Alegre and other cities pass through the lagoon to the sea. “The water level will rise and it will affect you,” he said in a video broadcast on his social media channels. “Please, believe the alerts and help us save lives. Let’s reduce the damage so we can be together to rebuild.” Porto Alegre’s metropolitan region is one of Brazil’s largest, home to around 4 million people. Authorities said Monday that they are concerned about the risks of hypothermia, as the temperature should drop to 10 C (50 F) on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Melo issued a plea for more donations of blankets. And it isn’t just residents who are at risk. “Our personnel has been wet for five days, shivering in the cold, staying up all night, in deficient sanitary conditions, because we’re sharing the same facilities with the displaced,” Gen. Hertz Pires do Nascimento, the army commander of Brazil’s southern region, told journalists. During Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said he was praying for the state’s population. Security is another concern. Rio Grande do Sul’s public security secretariat said in a statement that police will beef up operations to prevent looting and theft. Brazil’s national guard is mobilizing to the state to reinforce security. “Even a boat was stolen this morning from the people working on the rescue. Jet Skis and houses were looted. This is deplorable and must be denounced,” Paulo Pimenta, Lula’s spokesperson, said Tuesday at a news conference. The flood disaster is also likely to affect the South American country’s food supplies. Rio Grande do Sul produces 70% of an basic Brazilian foodstuff: rice. “With the rains, I think we’ve definitely delayed the harvest in Rio Grande do Sul. So, if needed to balance production, we’ll have to import rice, import beans,” Lula said in a radio interview at Brazil’s public broadcaster. Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul is being inundated by its worst flooding in 80 years killing 100 people and rendering thousands homeless Rains are expected to persist over the weekend state authorities said 372 people had been injured and 128 were unaccounted for More than 1.45 million people were affected by the floods which have spread to 417 of the state’s 497 cities with dozens of people still waiting to be evacuated by boat or helicopter from stricken homes Small boats crisscrossed the flooded regions searching for survivors People are rescued by residents after the floods in Canoas A drone view of the flooded Beira-Rio stadium Rains and flooding started in the northern part of Brazil before water came rushing through a network of lakes and rivers The lake in Porto Alegre hit 5.30 meters high Brazil's national center for natural disasters warned that the southern area of Rio Grande do Sul state was under "high risk" of more flooding with rainfall expected to restart after a brief hiatus Weather forecaster MetSul said in a statement the region could face more "very large" floods "of serious proportions" Sentinel Hub; Rio Grande do Sul government Residents rest in a makeshift shelter for people whose homes were flooded by heavy rains Residents rest in a gymnasium converted into a makeshift shelter for people whose homes were flooded by heavy rains A woman rests in a makeshift shelter for people whose homes were flooded by heavy rains A boat navigates through a flooded street after heavy rain in Canoas FILE - A woman is rescued from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre In a world growing increasingly accustomed to wild weather swings the last few days and weeks have seemingly taken those environmental extremes to a new level The Gremio Arena and surrounding area are flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre Residents visit a makeshift clinic for people whose homes were flooded by heavy rains Residential buildings stand in flood water after heavy rain in Canoas People who evacuated their flooded homes rest in a shelter amid heavy rain in Porto Alegre Heavy rains and massive flooding in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since last week killed at least 100 people and have left 128 people missing On Wednesday authorities in southern Brazil rushed to rescue survivors of massive flooding that has killed at least 100 people Efforts were continuing to rescue people stranded by the floods in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 others missing with the airport and bus station closed and main roads blocked because of the floodwaters Brazil (AP) — As major floods engulfed entire cities in the northern part of the Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state last week meteorologist Estael Sias knew the water would drain into capital Porto Alegre’s metropolitan region and that she would need to find a safe place water started filling her neighborhood in Canoas now one of the state’s most affected cities to make my family leave.” She said she could protect her close family but not others who insisted on staying put “It has been very distressing and still is I don’t know how it will be when I return home.” Authorities in southern Brazil rushed Wednesday to rescue survivors of massive flooding that has killed at least 100 people but some residents refused to leave belongings behind while others returned to evacuated homes despite the risk of new storms Heavy rains and flooding in Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left 130 people missing and much of the region has been isolated by the floodwaters Storms were expected in the state on Wednesday evening with hail and wind gusts reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) according to the national meteorology institute’s afternoon bulletin And the institute forecasts a cold front this weekend with additional rains to be particularly intense in the state’s north and east about 300 people were sheltering at the local club Gremio Nautico Uniao little-harmed neighborhood of Moinhos de Vento Dozens lay on mattresses as volunteers brought boxes filled with feijoada — a typical Brazilian bean-and-pork stew Staffers of the state’s civil defense agency told The Associated Press they have been struggling to persuade residents of the city of Eldorado do Sul People evacuate on a surfboard from a neighborhood flooded by heavy rains A flyover of Eldorado do Sul in a military helicopter showed hundreds of houses submerged surfboards and personal watercraft to move around Mayor Ernani de Freitas told local journalists that the city “will be totally evacuated.” “It will take at least a year to recover,” he said speaking at a news conference late Tuesday appealed to residents to stay out of harm’s way as the anticipated downpour may cause more severe flooding across the state “It isn’t the time to return home,” he said The civil defense agency’s own urgent warning asking displaced residents not to return to flooded areas also stressed the risk of disease transmission one of the coordinators of rescue operations told the AP his team is working at full speed before heavy rains that are forecast to hit the Porto Alegre area this weekend Moderate rain was falling Wednesday afternoon in the city “We hope the next rains are not like those we saw but there’s no way to be sure there won’t be trouble ahead of us,” Zucco said “At this moment we are focusing on finishing rescue operations and starting logistical support to the population food and transportation for the sick to some hospital,” the general added He also said some improvement in conditions for the day helped his men finally access some areas by land Unusually heavy rains have also inundated parts of Uruguay causing rivers to overflow in the country’s east and displacing nearly 1,000 people with rescuers reporting that they had evacuated 200 stranded people There were no immediate reports of casualties but the rescue service said flash floods had damaged over a dozen roads and left thousands of people without electricity rain in northern Rio Grande do Sul could prompt renewed swelling of rivers that are already causing widespread flooding around the Patos lagoon where the Porto Alegre municipal region is located who works for a forecasting service based there “We will remain on this level of alert at least until the end of the month,” she said A report by the National Confederation of Municipalities estimates damages at 4.6 billion reais ($930 million) in nearly 80% of Rio Grande do Sul’s municipalities Leite has said that the enormous impact will require something akin to the Marshall Plan for Europe’s post-WWII recovery Already the state has asked the federal government to suspend debt payments and create a fund for the southern region Congress passed a decree declaring a state of calamity in Rio Grande do Sul until the end of the year allowing the federal government to quickly allocate money to mitigate the catastrophe and rebuild regions affected by the floods The vote united supporters and opponents of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government “There is no limit to the public spending necessary to resolve the problem of the calamity that today is ravaging Rio Grande do Sul state,” Planning and Budget Minister Simone Tebet told Radio Gaucha in an interview AP videojournalist Lucas Dumphreys contributed from Porto Alegre and writer Isabel DeBre from Buenos Aires. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Angelica Mari is a Brazilian journalist and entrepreneurFollow AuthorMar 27, 2024, 11:14am EDTShareSaveCommentThe view of the inland port located on the shores of Guaíba Lake in Porto Alegre, where South Summit ... More takes place In the southernmost tip of Brazil, the state of Rio Grande do Sul is investing in the evolution of its technology scene and positioning itself as the first point of entry for international investors interested in South American tech companies. With a population of just over 11 million and key industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, the state has been developing its tech sector in its capital, Porto Alegre, as well other areas across its territory, over the last two decades. Now, the public and private sectors and academia are seeking to boost the number of local startups and develop the industry as a whole, aiming to become one of Brazil's main tech hubs. Unlike its neighbor, Santa Catarina, where the technology industry is thriving, Rio Grande do Sul has faced various structural hurdles in creating a growing tech innovation industry, including historically high unemployment and crime rates. These issues have meant that large companies have largely shied away from the state and many professionals have sought opportunities elsewhere. Rio Grande do Sul's startup scene is still in its infancy, with approximately 300 companies mapped, according to the RS Tech report, carried out by the government alongside Instituto Caldeira. Of these, 78% were established in the last five years, mostly focusing on areas such as health, agriculture, biotechnology, and education. According to state governor Eduardo Leite, the focus has been on promoting change, first through investments in areas such as better policing and reducing public debt, then by adopting a strategic positioning for investments in technology and innovation, reinforcing public policies to support innovation, including increased funding through grants. "We are changing the state's own perception so that it can sell itself to the world," Leite said in an interview with Forbes. The government of Rio Grande do Sul is "fully cognizant" that fostering the tech sector is the only way to drive sustainable economic growth, Leite noted. "Even within traditional industries, if companies don't incorporate a strong element of innovation and technology, they will not be able to compete globally." "Similarly, if we cannot steer our population towards the tech economy, we will be completely unable to develop ourselves as a state, so this agenda is urgent for us," the governor added. However, Leite noted that the state is not starting from scratch as far as developing a tech scene is concerned and that the local ecosystem has plenty to offer. Most tech ecosystems in Brazil are aiming for international exposure, and the governor argues Rio Grande do Sul can be a platform for those wanting to do business beyond Brazil. "We have skilled [tech] labor at a lower cost than other large urban centers such as São Paulo. From a regional point of view, we are culturally and geographically closer to Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, therefore offering investors and companies the opportunity to interact between Portuguese and Spanish-speaking economies," Leite pointed out. The innovation and technology environment in Rio Grande do Sul, particularly in Porto Alegre, has evolved over the past 20 years as scientific and technological parks connected to universities emerged, like Tecnopuc, Tecnosinos, Valetec, and others. The development of the innovation ecosystem then moved beyond the confines of these parks. Around 2017-2018, movements like Pacto Alegre emerged, uniting major universities and technology parks to foster joint development actions within the territory of Porto Alegre and the surrounding region. This led to the creation of organizations like Instituto Caldeira, launched in 2022, and the development of innovative territories, with entrepreneurship and innovation hubs set up in favelas across the state capital. The state government then requested a project similar to Pacto Alegre for the entire state, leading to the creation of Inova RS. Through partnerships with civil society, businesses, academia, and the government, the project aimed to enhance the innovation ecosystem across eight regions throughout the state. Companies beyond the capital also started to engage with the pro-innovation wave, often within the same industry sector: "We started to share information about digital transformation and what startups could bring to the table, and learn how to orchestrate these elements," said Daniel Randon, chief executive at transportation equipment and systems firm RandonCorp, headquartered in Caxias do Sul, 78 miles from the state capital. "Leaders have started to realize it was not possible to evolve in isolation and that a mindset change was needed," the executive noted. As one of the main technological parks of Rio Grande do Sul, Tecnopuc is moving to a new strategic phase, in tandem with the new wave of the ecosystem's development, according to the superintendent for innovation and development at the organization, Jorge Audy. "In the past, the focus was on attracting large international R&D investments, but the current priority has shifted towards generating startups in strategic fields of development," Audy noted, referring to areas such as artificial intelligence, health, education, agribusiness, finance, electric mobility, retail, and creative industries. Home to 600 startups, Tecnopuc aims to create an additional 1,000 new technology-based ventures in the next decade. However, challenges lie ahead, particularly in the health and biotechnology sectors: "There is a need for more risk investments, faster public approval processes, and a stable legal framework," Audy said. Despite these hurdles, Audy highlighted a promising future in areas like green hydrogen, gene therapies, and semiconductors. The latter field is strategic for tech development in Rio Grande do Sul, as the state hosts CEITEC, the state-owned semiconductor company. This company, once deemed non-strategic by former president Jair Bolsonaro and slated for sale, is now resuming its activities and strategic plan under the current federal administration. Entrepreneurship and innovation center Instituto Caldeira emerged as a representative of Rio Grande do Sul's new phase of tech development amid the Covid-19 pandemic, from a site that once housed Renner, then a textiles firm and currently a retail company. Named after the original energy-generating boilers (caldeiras) brought from Scotland, the institute aims to "inject new energy into the state through technology and innovation," according to chief executive Pedro Valério. "Caldeira has developed quite fast over the last couple of years since we launched, and we strongly believe in trust and collaboration among businesses, including those within the same sector, to foster innovation and community growth for Porto Alegre and the state as a whole," Valério said. The institute has rapidly grown, filling its 22,000 square meters in less than three years, and plans to expand further by acquiring an additional 33,000 square meters of old industrial space through new commitments from local family offices. "We aim to create an international festival atmosphere and serve as a permanent festival venue, fostering innovation through serendipitous connections," Valério noted. Located in the Fourth District area of Porto Alegre, the institute has started to impact the local economy, Valério said, with new restaurants and bars opening nearby and a significant reduction in petty crimes in the area. It has also facilitated partnerships between traditional institutions and the tech community, providing students from public schools with skills in tech and entrepreneurship, and connecting them with job opportunities within the institute's network of companies. Despite the recent wave of development Porto Alegre and the state as a whole have experienced, Valério acknowledges the challenges of being outside major economic hubs and the ongoing efforts to promote the institute and the region nationally and internationally. "We hope to share more success stories of transformed lives and the attraction of startups and traditional companies to our region in the future," he said. On the other hand, the intensification of the work organizations have undertaken in recent years is bearing fruit, particularly when it comes to investors. According to Valério, connections with relevant organizations from the Brazilian innovation scene, such as Cubo, the country's oldest entrepreneurship hub, have yielded significant results. "When Cubo connected us with folks like [corporate venture capital fund and accelerator focused on sustainability] Oxygea, and we were suddenly presented with the opportunity to have our startups showcase their work to them, you can tell things are really happening," Caldeira's head noted. "Not so long ago, that kind of interaction seemed unimaginable, unreachable even." For Oxygea's chief executive, Artur Faria, there is a need to bring more investors to the region and create a structure that can support the growth of startups. "It's not easy to do that, though. We aim to visit and be close to every innovation ecosystem in Brazil, but as a rule, investors rarely leave São Paulo to see what else is going on," he noted. Having an event as an opportunity for networking and collaboration, bringing together decision-makers and influencers, was seen as a missing piece of the puzzle in building a tech environment attractive enough for both local and international investors and entrepreneurs. Porto Alegre then became the stage for South Summit, a conference originally from Madrid brought to Brazil by a collaborative effort of local stakeholders led by Eduardo Lorea, chief executive of consulting firm Numerik. Previously, the group had tried to attract events like Web Summit, which ultimately chose Rio de Janeiro for its conference set to take place in April. South Summit was then executed by José Renato Hopf, an entrepreneur from Rio Grande do Sul who became a local success story after selling his payments business GetNet to Santander for 1.1 billion reais in 2014. "The event has a global nature, and its role is showcasing the innovation ecosystem in Brazil and the Latin American region," Hopf pointed out about the gathering, which saw over 23,000 people flocking to Porto Alegre for a 3-day event. The conference takes place in the city's old harbor site, which is set to be revitalized to become an entertainment and events area through a public-private partnership. In total, some 3,000 startups, 900 investors, and 140 investment funds (the equivalent of $213 billion in funds under management) have participated in the event. However, Faria, from Oxygea, noted there is a need to qualify the event by focusing on the quality of attendees rather than on size. "The event has already attracted players from Brazil and Latin America, but there is still a need to bring in more investors from other countries," he noted. "Also, I could see a lot of Series A investors, but not a lot of funds signing growth-stage checks, which you need in an ecosystem to drive traction. But that's a process: build it, and they will come," he argued. Despite the complexities facing an environment looking to stand out in the national innovation map and beyond, the general mood among local decision-makers is upbeat. "Like other companies in the state, I'm optimistic about the future and the potential for technological advancements to drive growth and create new opportunities," said Daniel Randon. "People here know the importance of staying ahead of the curve and embracing new technologies to remain competitive in the market—and that awareness will manifest in the developments we will see in the years to come," he concluded. Reporting by Fernando Cardoso in Sao Paulo Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; writing by Peter Frontini and Andre Romani; editing by Jonathan Oatis Marcia Zilli receives funding from the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the UK Met Office through the Climate Science for Services Partnership - Brazil Caio Coelho receives funding from Brazilian institutes (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq—and São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP) Neil Hart receives funding from United Kingdom Research and Innovation and the UK Met Office through the Climate Science for Services Partnership - Brazil University of Oxford provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK View all partners A mighty river is flowing out of the Amazon rainforest In the first kilometre above the forest canopy a “flying river” is transporting moisture evaporated from Amazonian trees southwards along the Andes mountains towards Rio Grande do Sul Almost the entire state – an area larger than the UK – is currently affected by unprecedented floods. The flying river has acted like a firehose, fuelling five months of rainfall in just two weeks, further enhanced by a strong jetstream located in just the wrong position above the region. And, based on future projections of climate change this situation will likely get worse as the temperature rises The floods have displaced more than 600,000 people and directly or indirectly affected more than 2 million in 446 of the 497 municipalities in the state leaving hundreds of thousands of homes with no power or drinking water Schools suspended classes and the state’s main roads and airport are closed While the southern part of the country is under water a heatwave caused record-breaking temperatures in the states of São Paulo this is similar to all of northern France being flooded while Barcelona swelters in 40°C heat This is not the first time the southernmost part of Brazil has been affected by such large-scale disasters. Similar weather systems, featuring moisture from the Amazon near the surface and the jetstream crossing the Andes high above, were associated with floods between September and November 2023 A combination of factors makes these floods more likely. For instance, warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific (still currently the case, even as El Niño starts to decay) is associated with these weather systems as are abnormally warm tropical Atlantic temperatures which add more moisture to the air brought south in the flying river Is this event a sign of things to come for southern Brazil? As the atmosphere warms, it can carry more water, which means there is the potential to form massive clouds and heavy rains This is a bit like buying a more absorbent sponge: it can hold more water but when you squeeze We have analysed results from state-of-the-art climate models that are able to simulate storms across South America in detail These indicate that extreme rainfall like that happening now is likely to become more frequent in the future and such risks may in fact be underestimated by the previous generation of climate models short but very intense rainfall is likely to happen more often as the planet warms irrespective of the unique weather systems that may affect particular regions Em meios aos esforços para mitigar os impactos das chuvas população enfrenta propagação de fake news - Anselmo Cunha/AFP On Friday's edition (17) of the podcast Três por Quatro produced by Brasil de Fato and presented by journalists Nara Lacerda and Nicolau Soares the mechanisms used by the far-right to spread disinformation were analyzed as well as the effects on the population affected The podcast also looked at the government's actions over the last few days to deal with the damage caused by the floods in the state.  is another name in the line-up for the episode “A task force should be set up in the Ministry of Justice to monitor and identify the culprits [of spreading disinformation] as quickly as possible and punish them,” says Professor Feres Júnior about the fake news about the tragedy Feres Jr., who works to monitor the behavior of the far right online highlights the profile of those who create and disseminate false messages especially in times of crisis. “Exploiting a calamity is something they [Bolsonaro supporters] have already done frequently after Jair Bolsonaro's defeat in the last presidential election,” he says José Genoíno emphasizes the need for the left to take a tough stance against those spreading lies which he believes is ineffective at curbing this behavior.  […] We have to understand that they are the new enemies We must consider them enemies that have to be destroyed We can't connive with these people in the name of freedom of expression – this is the freedom to kill,” Genoíno argues The anti-democracy of disinformation  emphasizes that tackling disinformation requires a broad understanding of the current scenario It is necessary to know when fake news is no more than disinformation about political opinions and where it effectively interferes in the search for solutions to emergencies the federal government must pay attention to movements in which there is a “set of articulated with political and financial interests to dismantle the capacity to respond to events or undermine the population's confidence in the action of public power," he explains. “This has an impact, and can often be characterized as a crime under article 257 of the Brazilian Penal Code [which deals with hindering aid in the event of a disaster] the government needs to act having this in mind.” From the point of view of the Lula government José Genoíno stresses the importance of combating disinformation immediately it is necessary to create an “action office to take immediate measures against disinformation working 24 hours a day across the board”.  this war of intolerance – we have to win it Because they want to pin on the Lula government what happened with the pandemic on the Bolsonaro government using Rio Grande do Sul as a laboratory for these lies,” he says Regulating networks and guaranteeing truth The tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul is, once again, highlighting the need to regulate social media platforms in Brazil. Bill 2630/20, known as the “Fake News Bill”, came up again in 2024 after Elon Musk attacked Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in early April. At the time heir to diamond deposits and owner of Tesla accused the magistrate of illegalities in blocking X accounts Despite the commotion over the attack by a foreign political actor on Brazilian institutions, the case did not generate any results in terms of regulation. On the contrary, the bill's rapporteur, federal deputy Orlando Silva (Communist Party of Brazil) president of the National Chamber of Deputies ordered the creation of a group to debate the issue postponing a possible decision by the House According to Brant, the Fake News Bill is not aimed at limiting or restricting citizens' freedom on the internet, but at combating the spreading of disinformation in the digital environment what we advocate for is that a crime offline should be treated as a crime online that platforms should have greater responsibility Therefore, there's no impact on the right to freedom of expression,” said the secretary Despite emphasizing the priority of saving the lives of the people in Rio Grande do Sul João Feres stresses the importance of regulating social media platforms, saying “Brazil can’t sustain itself for long without regulating this process of moderating online content Because without it, you're at the mercy of the immediate decisions of judges the actions and effects of the executive power And that's in nobody's interest.” New episodes of Três por Quatro are released every Friday morning discussing the main events and political situation in Brazil and the world All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced provided it is not altered and proper credit is given All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced Over two-thirds of Rio Grande do Sul's 497 municipalities have been affected leaving more than 150,000 people displaced told local media that the city was "100% destroyed" Read more here. 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Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 5th 2025 - 16:17 UTC 95 people have been killed so far in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul by the highly unusual heavy rains hitting the area since April 19 Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed that 131 people were missing and at least 401 towns (out of 497 statewide) had been affected While 48,799 people have been welcomed in shelters 159,036 victims have been displaced and housed elsewhere Rio Grande do Sul has 10.8 million inhabitants “The size of the crisis in Rio Grande do Sul is what makes this situation particularly difficult for us to deal with Practically the whole state is affected in some way,” lamented Leite who described the situation as a “catastrophe” he also said that the numbers were rising every day but the data may be “inaccurate” Temperatures are forecast to drop from Wednesday and Thursday with heavy rain expected in the southern part of the state we will again have very heavy rain in the northern half of the state affecting the rivers that have already risen and caused all this damage,” Leite also said while urging people not to return to their homes yet as there is still a risk of further flooding Brazil's Football Confederation (CBF) postponed all matches of men's and women's teams until May 27 “due to the state of public calamity in Rio Grande do Sul decreed by the federal and state governments as a result of the extreme weather events that have occurred,” the entity announced through a statement and attentive to its institutional functions as well as the humanitarian effort that the moment calls for reaffirms its unrestricted support for the authorities so that all measures and actions are adopted for the benefit of the population of Rio Grande do Sul whose relief is the top priority,” the communiqué went on The measure comes a day after the Gaucho Football Federation asked the CBF to suspend all matches involving clubs from the state of Rio Grande do Sul for 20 days Games involving Rio Grande do Sul teams had already been suspended on previous weekends but floods have engulfed several cities in the Porto Alegre metropolitan area culminating in the closure of Salgado Filho Airport for at least a month due to the flooding of the area South America's Football Confederation (Conmebol) also agreed to postpone away matches featuring Porto Alegre's Grêmio and Internacional in addition to plantations flooded and crops lost as chickens resulting in a “sad and heartbreaking” reality for small farmers Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page More than 300 municipalities have been affected by the heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul - Carlos Fabal/AFP has been severely affected by the heaviest rainfall in eight decades The storms have caused significant flooding and the displacement of thousands of families The state's central regions were the most affected with weather stations reporting between 50 and 100 cm of rain since last Monday (29) The floods and landslides have caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure including the partial collapse of a small hydroelectric dam that resulted in a two-meter-high wave Despite the region’s history of heavy rainfall this event has been particularly destructive Experts believe the increased rain is due to a combination of global warming and the recent El Niño phenomenon which causes the eastern Pacific Ocean to warm up The state civil defense reported on Sunday (5) that the death toll from the heavy rains has risen to 75 There are 103 missing and 155 people injured which is investigating whether another six deaths are linked to the weather events.   Of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has promised that the federal government will make every effort to rebuild the state of Rio Grande do Sul More than 300 municipalities were affected causing significant damage and displacing many residents. This is the second time Lula has visited the region this week to assess the situation.  During a press conference, Lula announced that the federal government would assist in restoring roads and resuming economic activities He assured the governor of Rio Grande do Sul that the Ministry of Transportation will help restore the state's roads the government's social and environmental areas will work on plans ranging from job recovery and back-to-school to preventing new climate disasters.  Lula also emphasized the importance of not allowing people to rebuild houses in the same places where they were destroyed and the union to locate safer land so people could rebuild their homes Lula guaranteed that there would be no bureaucratic obstacles to the reconstruction process and that resources would be guaranteed for the actions needed to rebuild the cities.  The Rio Grande do Sul cities of Canoas and Eldorado do Sul are facing a catastrophic situation due to flooding estimates that around 200,000 people are affected by the floods With more than 50,000 people living in risk areas the city council on Saturday advised the population of the entire west side of the city to leave their homes and seek shelter in higher A post shared by Jornal NH (@jornalnh) On Saturday night (4) residents formed a human cordon to help tow a speedboat and a boat with several people in the Mathias Velho neighborhood. Eldorado do Sul also suffers from floods, with over 90% of the city underwater and 95% of residents affected.  State Governor and the Environmental Code  In the first year of his term, in 2019, Governor Eduardo Leite made significant changes to Rio Grande do Sul's Environmental Code, modifying or removing almost 500 points from the state's environmental legislation. The Code, which took nine years between debates, hearings, and improvements, was run over by Leite's government.  The changes, which aimed to make requirements more flexible and favor business people, were criticized by environmentalists, who considered them a step backward in environmental protection. In some cases, the changes allowed for self-licensing. The discussion was conducted so quickly that it didn't go through the Assembly's Health and Environment Committee.  Leite passed his proposal with 37 votes in 2019. Only 11 deputies, all aligned with the left or center-left, voted against it. The governor immediately expressed his gratitude to his supporters: "I want to congratulate the 37 deputies who voted to reform our Environmental Code so that we can, by protecting the environment, put the state on the growth path," Leite said.  All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced, provided it is not altered and proper credit is given. All original content produced and editorially authored by Brasil de Fato may be reproduced, provided it is not altered and proper credit is given. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Parece que a página que você está procurando não está disponível Brazil – November 2024 - Adolescents and young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) in the Salesian Province of Porto Alegre Brazil (BPA) participated in simultaneous meetings in Guarapuava (PR) Rio do Sul (SC) and Viamão (RS) on 16 November a dream and a mission: the oratory of Don Bosco" and promoted times for reflection and fun The workshops held in the meetings covered important moments in the life of Don Bosco on which the young people reflected on the tenacity and faith of Don Bosco in the face of difficulties and on how he dedicated his life to the mission of educating and evangelising young people The goal was to inspire participants to overcome personal challenges guided by values such as patience and devotion ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements Carregando player de áudio(function(w,h){w[h] = w[h] || []; w[h].push('banner-flutuante-vertical')})(window,'pushAds')A chuva voltou a Porto Alegre na manhã desta sexta-feira (10) A projeção da meteorologia é de que a capital e outros municípios gaúchos tenham chuvas fortes ao longo de todo o fim de semana o repórter Hygino Vasconcelos afirmou que a mudança brusca de temperatura foi sentida da noite de ontem para a manhã de hoje Alerta de perigo potencial foi feito à capital Segundo o Inmet (Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia) até 50 milímetros de chuva podem ser registrados na capital nesta sexta com risco de ventos intensos de até 60 km/h O alerta entrou em vigor às 9h52 e é válido até 23h59 Brasil analfabeto crê em tudo que vem do zap Petróleo mais barato abre margem para gasolina Atlético-MG pode anunciar Dudu após jogo em Caxias Lula colhe tempestades em ano de colheita prometida Tempo deve melhorar somente na terça-feira (14) Uma massa de ar seco e frio deve trazer o sol de volta à capital e a outros municípios do estado Cidades do estado podem ter entre 150 e 200 milímetros de chuva Prefeito de Canoas pediu cobertores. Jairo Jorge (PSD) afirmou na manhã desta sexta-feira (10) que os abrigos não estão preparados para o frio iminente. A cidade pode registrar mínima de 9ºC no fim de semana região dos Vales e Litoral Norte do estado devem ter até 120 milímetros de chuva A informação foi dada pelo governo do estado na manhã desta sexta-feira (10) Maior preocupação do governo é com deslizamentos Segundo a meteorologista da Sala de Situação do Governo do Rio Grande do Sul como a região entre o litoral norte e a serra gaúcha o planalto e a própria serra estão em áreas de risco devido ao solo encharcado Guaíba deve voltar a ultrapassar os cinco metros As mudanças mais significativas no corpo d'água devem ser sentidas no domingo Jaguarã e a Lagoa dos Patos também podem atingir cota de inundação no fim de semana por causa das chuvas "As regiões com maior chuva são a região do Guaíba e o litoral norte então todos os rios que já foram afetados devem atingir novamente uma cota de inundação Toda essa água vai se propagar para o Guaíba e a gente tem então a perspectiva que volte aos limiares que a gente teve anteriormente meteorologista da Sala de Situação do Rio Grande do Sul segundo medição feita às9h desta sexta-feira (10) O dado é da aferição das réguas da Sema (Secretaria Estadual do Meio Ambiente e Infraestrutura) e da ANA (Agência Nacional de Águas) Diminuição no nível do Guaíba foi de 59 centímetros em cinco dias mas continua dois metros acima da cota de inundação Mudança de vento afetará o Guaíba na próxima semana somada a um vento Sul e prevista para a noite da terça-feira (14) deve fazer o corpo d'água subir pelo menos 20 centímetros em poucas horas O órgão ainda investiga se uma morte registrada durante o período das chuvas tem relação com as enchentes Saiba primeiro: receba alertas em tempo real das notícias mais impactantes do dia Desalojados e desabrigados somam mais de 400 mil Há 337.346 pessoas fora de casa e outras 70.772 em abrigos segundo boletim divulgado pela Defesa Civil às 12h desta sexta-feira (10) Há pelo menos 163 mil casas sem energia elétrica e outras 385 mil pessoas sem água em casa O autor da mensagem, e não o UOL, é o responsável pelo comentário. 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