Dr Robert Muggah is affiliated with the Igarapé Institute an independent think and do tank that develops research solutions and partnerships to influence public and corporate policies and practices to address key global challenges in the areas of public security Dr Muggah is also an advisor to the United Nations Dr Muggah is currently working on a major report for the UNDP on climate mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) provides funding as a partner of The Conversation BR View all partners Devastating floods led to more than 175 deaths and 423,000 people displaced in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in May. It was the state’s worst natural catastrophe in almost a century but Brazil is no stranger to mass population movements triggered by climate change Over the past two decades at least eight million Brazilians have fled or migrated due to storms, floods, forest fires, drought, and sea-level rise. In 2023 alone, around 745,000 people were displaced by extreme climate events combined with the effects of El Nina and El Nino These events not only reveal the perils of a changing climate but also a public that is unprepared for the coming storms Whether in Brazil or elsewhere, the decision to stay or leave is not only informed by increasingly intense and frequent climate shocks and stresses. In fact, persistent socio-economic risks such as food insecurity and access to basic services also play a central role The truth is that no one actually knows how many Brazilians are moving because of climate change for the simple reason that there are no centralized monitoring or registration systems in place While spectacular crises periodically draw attention to the issue or relocated due to natural disasters and environmental degradation as well as vulnerable populations who are “trapped” and unable to move Scientific studies show that Latin America and Caribbean countries face a future of increasing climate threats ranging from floods and forest fires to droughts and rising sea levels temperatures are projected to rise between 1.7-5.3C by the end of the century national and state authorities have simply not prioritized climate-related adaptation and resilience strategies The National Center for Monitoring and Alert of Natural Disasters (CEMADE) should also start monitoring climate mobility as part of its mandate Brazil needs to shift its posture from one that reacts to climate-related crises to one that proactively mitigates their impacts by strengthening resilience This will require expanding the country’s early warning and response capabilities including at the state and municipal levels Investment in ecosystem-based adaptation strategies should be directed toward both expulsion and relocation areas to minimize risks before Priorities include targeted infrastructure upgrades in flood-prone and coastal communities expanded access to drought resistant crops and livestock and measures to upskill and retrain people whose livelihoods will be impacted by a changing climate Brazilian authorities could also accelerate action by updating the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and NAP to reflect the rapidly evolving risks of climate mobility the last version of the NAP underlines the threats posed by increasingly frequent extreme events and the risks of changing weather to job opportunities and migration patterns The NAP also singles out the increase in so-called “environmental refugees” and migration to cities. It also features a national sectoral strategy with provisions for relocating and redistributing populations in priority areas These strategies should be upgraded and accelerated including with adequate financing from the Brazilian National Development Bank and potentially the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank Faced with the certainty that climate shocks and stresses are set to increase, bolder steps are warranted. Brazil could draw inspiration from Colombia which is set to approve a new “climate mobility” law that specifies the rights of affected populations proposes a unified registry to monitor population movements and assigns clear responsibilities for action from the federal to the municipal level local authorities are investing in restoring coastal land to reduce the likelihood of relocation Brazil should expand efforts to formalize precarious settlements As the implications of a warming world becomes clearer, Brazil faces complex trade-offs in how it prepares for people on the move. Like major cities from China and Indonesia to the US and Europe that are being overwhelmed by rising sea levels Brazil may have to build entirely new cities In Rio Grande do Sul, this is already a real possibility. The state’s Vice Governor explained that “we cannot rule out having to remove entire cities from where they are and rebuild cities in other locations”. With over half of all Brazilians living within 150km of the coast, these challenges may be closer to home than many understand. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker SAO PAULO - The death toll from heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to 39 with some 70 people still missing, the Civil Defense agency said Friday. The heavy rain was one of the worst climate tragedies that has so far affected 235 municipalities, including the state capital of Porto Alegre, according to the agency. The state has seen persisting rainfall since Monday, causing rivers to swell, destroying bridges, and putting the city of Porto Alegre, with a population of more than 1.4 million, on alert. Heavy rains also spread to the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, where a person was killed in the flooding and landslides. Recognizing the calamity, the Brazilian government has sent equipment and financial aid to Rio Grande do Sul. More than 24,000 people were displaced by the disaster, according to the agency. "These will be difficult days. We ask people to leave their homes. Our goal is to save lives. Things will be lost, but we must preserve lives. Our priority is to rescue people. As for the rest, we'll find the way ahead," Governor Eduardo Leite said. Leite confirmed that this is "the biggest disaster in the state" and that Rio Grande do Sul is in a "state of war." The death toll from floods and mudslides triggered by torrential storms in southern Brazil on Friday climbed to 39, officials said, as they warned of worse to come. As the rain kept beating down, rescuers in boats and planes searched for scores of people reported missing among the ruins of collapsed homes, bridges and roads. Rising water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were straining dams and threatening the metropolis capital, Porto Alegre, with “unprecedented” flooding, authorities said. “Forget everything you’ve seen, it’s going to be much worse in the metropolitan region,” Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite said as the streets of the state capital, with a population of about 1.5 million, started flooding after days of heavy downpours in the region. The Rio Grande do Sul Civil Defense Department said that at least 265 municipalities had sustained storm damage since Monday, injuring 74 people and displacing more than 24,000 — one-third of whom have been brought to shelters. At least 68 people were missing, and more than 350,000 have experienced some form of property damage, the latest data showed. Meanwhile, officials were reporting an “emergency situation, presenting a risk of collapse” at four dams in the state. The level of the state’s main Guiaba River was estimated to have risen 4.2m to 4.6m, but could not be measured as the gauges have washed away, Porto Alegre Mayor Sebastiao Melo said. As it kept rising, officials raced to reinforced flood protection. Porto Alegre’s worst recorded flood was in 1941, when the river reached 4.71m. Elsewhere in the state, several cities and towns have been completely cut off in what Leite described as “the worst disaster in the history” of the state. Many communities have been left without access to drinking water, or telephone or Internet services. Tens of thousands have no electricity. “I feel very sorry for all those who live here... I feel pain in my heart,” said Maria Luiza, a 51-year-old resident of Sao Sebastiao do Cai. In Capela de Santana, north of the state capital, Raul Metzel said that his neighbors had to abandon their livestock. “You don’t know if the water will continue to rise or what will happen to the animals, they may soon drown,” he said. Climatologist Francisco Eliseu Aquino on Friday said that the devastating storms were the result of a “disastrous cocktail” of global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon. South America’s largest country has experienced a string of extreme weather events, including a cyclone in September last year that claimed at least 31 lives. Aquino said the region’s particular geography meant it was often confronted by the effects of tropical and polar air masses colliding, but these events have “intensified due to climate change.” When they coincide with El Nino, a periodic weather system that warms the tropical Pacific, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, he said. Extreme flooding hit the state in the past two years at “a level of recurrence not seen in 10,000 years,” said Aquino, who heads the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul’s geography department. Unprecedented floods have engulfed major Rio Grande do Sul cities where 135,000 people have been pushed from their homes Streets are flooded after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai said the flooding of the Guaíba River—a major body of water in the state of Rio Grande do Sul — is unlike anything he’s seen before “Rio Grande do Sul has never had a flood like this A video shared online on Saturday night showed a human chain of dozens of people stretching into the flood waters in Canoas, Brazil, to help pull in a boat full of people plucked from rooftops. That scene was repeated again and again over the weekend. Right now, water levels in the Guaíba River are a foot and a half higher than they were during the 1941 flood. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Porto Alegre’s airport, Salgado Filho, is underwater and flights are expected to be canceled through the end of the month Emergency messages and sirens blared from loudspeakers in many neighborhoods in recent days as residents were ordered to flee as rising flood waters breached dikes and poured into neighborhoods Since the beginning of the flooding disaster, 20,000 people have been rescued in Rio Grande do Sul — with many being rescued by local residents who have been using their own boats and jet skis Fabiano Saldanha is one of those residents helping. He was interviewed by a Brazilian media outlet over the weekend They don’t have anything left,” Saldanha told press Other residents can be found cutting cabbage at a makeshift community soup kitchen in the working-class neighborhood of Cruzeiro, organized by the state chapter of Levante Popular da Juventude which means Youth Uprising social movement the group cooks to deliver food for neighbors in need they’re making hundreds of meals to deliver to those hit hardest by the floods — one of dozens of initiatives like this across the region “The key word right now is solidarity,” said Lucas Gertz Monteiro “This has motivated the people here over the last few days.” About 82% of the residents of the municipality of Sao Leopoldo have been forced from their homes due to the floods And almost 20,000 people are in shelters across the region right now Alexandre Zavascki is a doctor attending to people at one of the centers “The main thing I’m treating people for now are things like people have preexisting conditions there is a team for psychiatric care because people are impacted and traumatized with what has happened,” he said Countless videos online show people being rescued off of corrugated metal rooftops Brown floodwaters swallowed the rest of the homes a woman in a striped black and white shirt lays on a roof ma’am,” reassures a rescue worker beside her who is trying to help her get into the helicopter Governor Eduardo Leite told press on Saturday night that they would need absurdly exceptional measures “Rio Grande do Sul is going to need a type of Marshall Plan of reconstruction Something like the reconstruction plan for Europe after World War II.” “Rio Grande do Sul is going to need a type of Marshall Plan of reconstruction,” he said “Something like the reconstruction plan for Europe after World War II.” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva flew over the disaster on Sunday. He promised to rebuild roads and help free up necessary funds for the state. He’s also called for a plan to prevent a future disaster like this. Environmentalists say the state’s relaxation of environmental legislation contributed to the tragedy by clearing forest land for agriculture that would have helped absorb excess runoff. They also blame local officials for refusing to implement public policies that would have prepared the region for the disaster.  “Here in Porto Alegre, there were floodgates stuck because of a lack of maintenance. Pump houses, too. A few of them weren’t working. One or two bursts,” said biologist Paulo Brack, a professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. “So, yes, there was a huge lack of preparation on the part of Porto Alegre’s City Hall. And unfortunately, there was no preparation for this event by the Porto Alegre municipal government or the Rio Grande do Sul state government.” Experts say the water levels in Porto Alegre’s Guaíba River could remain above flood levels for the next 10 days 70% of residents in the region lack potable water Gustavo Türck, a local journalist with the community media outlet Coletivo Catarse said his family has electricity and running water for now “It’s only a matter of time before the water runs out We’ve never lived through anything like this and it’s going to be a long time before the city rebounds from this tragedy.” Brazilians everywhere are doing what they can to help Dozens of people chipped in at one community effort last night in Florianópolis shoes and water into a truck already headed south this is all people can do: Help and pray for clear skies delivered to your inbox every weekday morning Thanks to our sponsor PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. People evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Residents and their pets evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) A soldier evacuates a dog from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Streets are flooded after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Firefighters evacuate people from a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) An aerial view of an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) A man wades through an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) People evacuate an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) People evacuate from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo) Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defense agency said Friday, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes. The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state jumped to 56 as of Saturday morning, according to the state’s civil defense agency. Helicopters are being used to rescue residents on the rooftops who were isolated in their homes by the widespread flooding that has already displaced more than 30,000 people. It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total. The flooding statewide has surpassed that seen during a historic 1941 deluge, according to the Brazilian Geological Service. In some cities, water levels were at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago, the agency said. On Thursday, a dam at a hydroelectric plant between the cities of Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed and entire cities in the Taquari River valley, like Lajeado and Estrela, were completely overtaken by water. In the town of Feliz, 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the state capital, Porto Alegre, a massively swollen river swept away a bridge that connected it with the neighboring city of Linha Nova. Operators reported electricity, communications and water cuts across the state. More than 24,000 people had to leave their homes, according to the civil defense agency. Without internet, telephone service or electricity, residents struggled to provide updates or information to their relatives living in other states. Helicopters flew continually over the cities while stranded families with children awaited rescue on the rooftops. Isolete Neumann, 58, lives in the city of Lajeado in the Taquari River valley and told The Associated Press she has never before seen a scenario like the one she is now experiencing. “People were making barricades in front of hospitals with sand and gravel. It felt like a horror movie,” she said by phone. Some people in her region were so desperate, she added, that they threw themselves into the water currents. Neumann’s own neighborhood wasn’t inundated, but has no running water and she hasn’t showered since Tuesday. She said she’s collecting rainwater in a basin to be able to cook. A clothing store she owns in the city’s central area is flooded, she added. “I don’t even know how it must be. There must be nothing left.” The downpour started Monday and is expected to last at least through Saturday, Marcelo Seluchi, chief meteorologist at the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters, told Brazil’s public television network Friday. On Thursday night, Gov. Eduardo Leite alerted the state’s population — known as gauchos — about the persistence of rains and floods. The situation was expected to worsen in Porto Alegre, he said. “As a human being, I am devastated inside, just like every gaucho is,” he said. “But as governor, I am here steadfast and I guarantee that we will not falter. We are doing everything with focus, attention, discipline, and outrage, to ensure that everything within our reach is done.” “The first words from Minister Fumio Kishida in the meeting we held were of solidarity with the people of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, who are victims by one of the largest floods we have ever known. Never before in the history of Brazil had there been such a quantity of rain in one single location,” Lula said. Karina Lima, a 36-year-old scientist and PhD candidate in climatology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, told The Associated Press that the state is located in a region with certain characteristics that amplify El Niño’s destructive potential. “Models have long predicted that Rio Grande do Sul will continue to see an increase in average annual precipitation and extreme precipitation, meaning more concentrated and severe rainfall,” she said. According to reports from the state government 11 people have died and 18 were reported missing Damage to homes has left over 4,000 people displaced Many of those disaplced are being housed in emergency accommodation in local schools or other public buildings The Military Fire Department carried out about 2,400 rescues in two days teams were continuing to search for several people reported missing mostly in areas of Caraá and Três Forquilhas At least 7 major roads have been blocked or closed to traffic A bridge that connects Três Cachoeiras to Morrinhos do Sul was partially destroyed locate missing people and provide full support to families and the Secretariat for Logistics and Transport is already analysing compromised bridges and roads so that we can act in an emergency and free passage in these locations.” In total 49 municipalities in the state have bee affected by the severe weather As much as 300 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in Maquiné The level of the Caí River in the municipality of Montenegro jumped by more than 2 metres in a short space of time on 16 June Flooding affected several municipalities in northern parts of the state after heavy rainfall in early March 2023 One person died after a vehicle was swept away by the flooding of the Três Forquilhas river in Terra de Areia Thousands of people were displaced and 2 people died after prolonged rainfall caused multiple rivers to overflow in July 2020. Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList torrential rainfall in Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has swollen rivers More than 90 deaths have been blamed on the flooding Rescue efforts continue across the state and in the hard-hit city of Porto Alegre The intense rains have abated for the moment but flooding rivers continue to rise downstream forcing thousands to seek shelter and assistance To receive an email notification every time new photo stories are published, sign up here We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com A collection of winning and honored images from this year’s nature-photo competition A collection of amazing recent images made with the Hubble Space Telescope Mourners of Pope Francis gathered at the Vatican scenes from the the second weekend of Coachella 2025 and landscapes of the Earth’s arctic and subarctic regions Top experts believe global temperatures will rise by at least 2.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 That frightening prediction must spur us to action First, the good news. We understand the problem: almost two-thirds of people worldwide believe the climate crisis is an emergency and should be confident that we will be able to achieve it thanks to the rapid advance of renewable technologies far above the internationally agreed limit all from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change heatwaves and an increased risk of new diseases spurring social conflicts and displacing huge numbers of people They will punish poorer nations above all – experts warn of a “semi-dystopian future” for the global south – which helps to explain why richer nations have been slow to act This picture of the future can feel overwhelming and unfixable, encouraging people to tune out or accept the worst. For many of the scientists surveyed by the Guardian, those feelings are magnified measuring and informing people about the problem they find it incomprehensible that so little has been done to tackle the causes and prepare for the consequences They feel hopeless and infuriated when faced by the failure of governments to act and the determination of vested corporate interests to block change Tweaking personal behaviour is not sufficient: systemic change is required It is true that what citizens support in theory and what they actually vote for do not always align Tackling global heating will be cheaper than trying to live with it but the costs are upfront and the rewards long term – certainly longer than electoral cycles But politicians have mostly failed to make the case for change and some experts believe that they often lag behind voters back leaders who prioritise the climate crisis A year with so many major elections around the globe offers a critical opportunity It is not only useful; it is essential. Individual actions can seem futile given the magnitude of the task. But they can also build collective awareness, a sense that change is possible and momentum for wider systemic progress. Just as climate tipping points exist, so do social tipping points. It is imperative to hit the latter as fast as we possibly can. Parts of Rio Grande do Sul have seen heavy rain throughout July Rainfall was particularly intense from 06 to 08 July At least twelve locations recorded more than 100mm of rain in 24 hours to 08 July Porto Alegre with 106.2mm and Santa Rosa with 150mm The state’s Civil Defence reported that 7,146 people were forced to leave their homes after flooding or landslides in 30 cities or municipalities Four cities have declared an emergency situation: Arroio do Meio Fatalities were reported in Caxias do Sul and Colinas Cruzeiro do Sul and Bom Retiro do Sul were flooded by the overflowing Taquari river Evacuations were carried out in São Borja after the Uruguay river broke its banks As of 11 July the Uruguay river stood at 9.5 metres at the Passo São Borja station The Uruguay is also above alert levels further downstream at Itaqui and Uruguaiana flooding homes in São Sebastião do Caí and displacing over 1,800 people The city of Igrejinha is also badly affected after flooding from the Paranhana river rivers including the Guaíba have also overflowed Brazil’s government has announced a package of measures aimed at directly supporting those affected by floods in Rio Grande do Sul state Floods over the past two weeks have killed dozens of people and more than 100 remain missing Firefighters evacuate people from a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai Military prepare to load supplies on an Air Force plane to transport to victims and people who lost their homes from floods caused by heavy rains in the cities of the Rio Grande do Sul state Beira Rio stadium is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre Residents rest in a makeshift shelter for people whose homes were flooded by heavy rains evacuated from an area flooded by heavy rains A Brazilian soldier carries a dog after rescuing it from a flooded area after heavy rain in Canoas A resident pulls belongings he recovered from his flooded home after heavy rain in Canoas The city of Porto Alegre is flooded after heavy rain in Porto Alegre A firefighter carries a girl rescued from an area flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre People rest in a shelter after their homes were flooded by heavy rains in Porto Alegre Vehicles are partially submerged on a street flooded by heavy rains in Sao Leopoldo Military move through the yard preparing donations for humanitarian aid for victims and people who lost their homes from floods caused by heavy rains in the cities of the Rio Grande do Sul state SAO PAULO (AP) — While flooding that has devastated Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has yet to subside another scourge has spread across the region: disinformation on social media that has hampered desperate efforts to get aid to hundreds of thousands in need Among fake postings that have stirred outrage: That official agencies aren’t conducting rescues in Brazil’s southernmost state That bureaucracy is holding up donations of food One persistent rumor contends that authorities are concealing hundreds of corpses Jorge and other officials say hidden actors behind the postings are exploiting the crisis to undermine trust in government said many people ignored official warnings and instead heeded social media posts saying government alerts “were just politicians trying to alarm people.” many didn’t leave their homes in this emergency Some might have died because of it,” Vanazzi told The Associated Press “Sometimes we spend more time defending against lies than working to help our population.” Floods over the past two weeks have killed at least 149 people More than 600,000 people have been forced from their homes The army was spared online mudslinging during the presidency of Bolsonaro a former captain who is a fierce opponent of his successor But it has become a target for far-right hostility under Lula with social media users attacking military leaders for taking orders from the leftist president executive editor of fact-checking agency Aos Fatos Several videos posted online insinuate soldiers aren’t participating in rescues Others mock soldiers’ supposed lack of equipment using footage of a truck stuck in floodwaters The general who leads the army’s southern command told CNN Brasil that one rumor claimed he was responsible for nonexistent deaths inside a hospital The army says it and local agencies deployed 31,000 soldiers police and others to rescue more than 69,000 people and 10,000 animals and deliver tons of aid by air and boats Brazil’s federal government announced it will spend nearly 51 billion reais ($10 billion) on recovery provide credit to farmers and small companies and suspend the state’s 11-billion-reais annual debt service because they do not reflect reality,” the command said in a statement to the AP “Many active military were also victims of these floods Many soldiers have lost their homes after the rains and remain on the front lines helping the population.” Brazil’s government is appealing to social media platforms to stop the spread of misinformation Attorney General Jorge Messias said in an interview Messias’ office also filed a lawsuit against a social media influencer who claimed that a single businessman — and staunch Bolsonaro supporter — dispatched more aircraft to aid rescue efforts than the entire Brazilian air force The government is demanding the right to reply on the Instagram profile of the influencer an outspoken critic of Lula with nearly 10 million followers The swarm of disinformation at a time of crisis amounts to a “tragedy within a tragedy,” Messias said “When we stop everything to respond to fake news we’re diverting public resources and energy away from what really matters Nearly one-third of people surveyed by pollster Quaest reported they were exposed to false news about the floods according to the poll conducted from May 2-6 it had a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points Disinformation is creating a hostile environment for aid workers Locals have accused state and municipal agents of acting too slowly and threatened to expose them online and yelled at firefighters over reports they’d failed to rescue people and pets according to the mayors of Sao Leopoldo and Canoas Some people pretending to be volunteers entered a warehouse of the state’s civil defense agency last week filming aid donations inside and posting video online as supposed evidence of its failure to distribute the aid another falsehood contended authorities were halting trucks with donations It was fueled by broadcaster SBT’s story about a truck stopped for inspection that Social media posts distorted that report and claimed aid stoppages are a widespread phenomenon “When there is a tragedy with the dimensions of what happened in Rio Grande do Sul of course there will be isolated cases of absurd things,” he said by phone from Sao Paulo “Social media sells those real and isolated cases as though they represent official protocol.” Janine Bargas has been working nonstop on the disaster as a professor at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre in the state capital her duties included providing reliable information such as telling people where they could find needed medication Misinformation became so intense that her job now includes monitoring and debunking it That has included recommendations for a bogus preventive treatment for a waterborne bacterial disease “The same anti-vaccine doctors who were recommending chloroquine during COVID started promoting a prophylaxis for leptospirosis,” Bargas told the AP adding that panic over the reports erupted in a shelter managed by university staff And this medication’s dosage can be very toxic for the liver.” became a target of disinformation just hours after the floods began shared millions of times on messaging apps showed a brawl it said took place at a shelter in Canoas because of a decree that all donations pass through City Hall The brawl actually took place in Ceara state aimed at making people stop believing in public agents,” he said But not this time; there’s also a wave of anger caused by disinformation.” A team of firefighters work at a flooded street in the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai Brazil: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the country's south Thursday where the death toll from floods caused by torrential rains has risen to 13 As rescuers continued the search for some 21 people reported missing among the ruins of collapsed homes authorities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul have reported a state of emergency Floods and landslides caused by a week of storms hit nearly 150 municipalities in the state also injuring at least a dozen people and displacing close to 10,000 Governor Eduardo Leite said the state was dealing with "the worst disaster in (its) history." who has blamed the torrent on climate change arrived in the town of Santa Maria in the morning with a delegation of ministers and held a working meeting with Leite and other officials to coordinate joint rescue efforts The federal government has made available 12 aircraft 45 vehicles and 12 boats as well as 626 soldiers to help clear roads forecasts warned the state's main Guaiba River which has already overflowed its banks in some areas would reach an extraordinary level of three meters (9.8 feet) by Thursday and four meters the next day Entire communities in Rio Grande do Sul have been completely cut off as persistent rains have destroyed bridges and blocked roads and left towns without even telephone or internet services Rescuers and soldiers have been scrambling to free families trapped in their homes many stuck on rooftops to escape rising waters Authorities have urged people to avoid areas along state highways due to a risk of mudslides and those who live near rivers or on hillsides to evacuate Hundreds of thousands of people have been left without access to electricity and drinking water said damages have been estimated at $20 million Mayor Sandra Backes of Sinimbu said the situation in her town was "a nightmare." supermarkets -- everything is devastated," she said in a video posted on Instagram lifeguards used boats to transport residents The region's rivers had already been swollen from previous storms Last September at least 31 people died as a cyclone hit the state South America's largest country has suffered a string of recent extreme weather events which experts say are made more likely by climate change The floods came amid a cold front battering the south and southeast WORLD NEWS 5:00 PM | Updated: 5:01 pm BY MICHAEL HOUCK RIO GRANDE DO SUL, Brazil — The Church of Jesus Christ is sending humanitarian aid to those affected by the recent flooding that devastated Brazil’s southern state of Rio Grande do Sul the Church said the Brazil Area Presidency is using its 21 meetinghouses as shelters for the thousands of evacuated people The Church is also providing thousands of basic food packages to Rio Grande do Sul’s Civil Defense which have already begun distribution to the locals The Church said that its missionaries helped unload emergency supplies from an airplane at a military airport in the city of Canoas on Wednesday Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints help unload emergency supplies from an Azul airplane at a military airport in Canoas following severe flooding in the Rio Grande do Sul state it is working with Azul Airlines to send an aircraft from Saõ Paulo to Porto Alegre with supplies donated by the Church on Thursday The Church said its Welfare and Self-Reliance and Family Services departments are working with the Brazilian government to support the Rio Grande do Sul community “(Brazilian) news reports say some 80% of the population is without running water right now Many also do not have telephone or internet services,” the Church news release stated Firefighters rescue a man and his dog from a flooded area at the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul amid the “worst disaster” in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) via Getty Images The Church said the flooding blocked all routes from Brazil’s capital city, Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul. News reports state that the flood waters affect more than two-thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the area “Thousands of essential items are being donated personal protective equipment and tools,” the Church said “These donations are being coordinated in collaboration with the State Civil Defense local church leaders are coordinating efforts to help the community.” Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints help load emergency supplies from an Azul airplane onto a truck at a military airport in Canoas The Associated Press reports that nearly 100,000 people have been forced out of their homes with at least 90 people dead and more than 130 missing Other cities in Rio Grande do Sul were already suffering from at least three previous major floods in less than eight months The Church said if you want to donate to those affected by this flooding you can do so through official government organizations that are coordinating donations through civil defense and social funds Follow @KSLMichaelHouck Grab from a handout video released by the Sao Paulo Civil Defense showing the flooded Taquari river bridge, which is part of the BR-396 highway that connects the cities of Lageado and Estrela, in the region of Vale do Taquari, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 3, 2024. (Photo by Handout / Sao Paulo Civil Defense / AFP) São Sebastião do Caí, Brazil: The death toll from floods and mudslides triggered by torrential storms in southern Brazil climbed to 39 on Friday, officials said, as they warned of worse to come. Rising water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were straining dams and threatening the metropolis of Porto Alegre with "unprecedented" flooding, authorities warned. "Forget everything you've seen, it's going to be much worse in the metropolitan region," Governor Eduardo Leite said Friday as the streets of the state capital, with a population of some 1.5 million, started flooding after days of heavy downpours in the region. The state's civil defense department said at least 265 municipalities had suffered storm damage in Rio Grande do Sul since Monday, injuring 74 people and displacing more than 24,000 -- a third of whom have been brought to shelters. At least 68 people were missing, and more than 350,000 have experienced some form of property damage, according to the latest data. And there was no end in sight, with officials reporting an "emergency situation, presenting a risk of collapse" at four dams in the state. The level of the state's main Guiaba river, meanwhile, was estimated to have risen 4.2-4.6 meters (about 13.7-15 feet), but could not be measured as the gauges have washed away, the mayor of Porto Alegre said. As it kept rising, officials raced to reinforced flood protection. Porto Alegre's worst recorded flood was in 1941, when the river reached a level of 4.71 meters. Elsewhere in the state, several cities and towns have been completely cut off from the world in what Governor Leite described as "the worst disaster in the history" of Rio Grande do Sul. Many communities have been left without access to drinking water, telephone or internet services. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the region Thursday, vowing "there will be no lack of human or material resources" in responding to the disaster, which he blamed on climate change. The central government has sent aircraft, boats and more than 600 soldiers to help clear roads, distribute food, water and mattresses, and set up shelters. School classes have been suspended state-wide. "You don't know if the water will continue to rise or what will happen to the animals, they may soon drown," he said. Climatologist Francisco Eliseu Aquino told AFP on Friday the devastating storms were the result of a "disastrous cocktail" of global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon. South America's largest country has recently experienced a string of extreme weather events, including a cyclone in September that claimed at least 31 lives. Aquino said the region's particular geography meant it was often confronted by the effects of tropical and polar air masses colliding -- but these events have "intensified due to climate change." And when they coincide with El Nino, a periodic weather system that warms the tropical Pacific, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, he said. landslides and several rivers breaking their banks As many as 7,000 people have been evacuated from their homes A total of 23 towns and cities in the state have been affected by floods and heavy rainfall that began on Friday 23rd August Many areas have seen more than the monthly average of rain fall in just a few days Several major state roads have been blocked by landslides or flood water Brazil’s Defesa Civil reported that the rivers Antas, Paranhana, Caí, Taquari and Sapucaia Arroyo, all burst their banks after heavy rainfall, resulting in flood waters inundating the homes and streets. Some reports claim the River Taquari is 11 metres above normal levels One man is reported missing in San Francisco de Paula after he tried to cross a dam in his car and was swept away by the raging flood waters Local rescue services are still searching for the man Another person has been reported injured in a separate incident as a result of the floods Floods and landslides recently hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 2008 and 2011 as many as 40,000 people were affected by flooding and mudslides after torrential rain Hundreds were made homeless and around 12 people died A state of emergency was declared in 7 cities in the state In November 2008 Rio Grande do Sul was hit hard by flooding although the bordering state of Santa Catarina suffered worse where 50 people died and 20,000 were left homeless Sources: Globo.com