Authorities interrupted rescue operations in flood-ravaged southern Brazil on Wednesday because of heavier rainfall and the risk of lightning and powerful winds that could worsen a disaster that has already killed at least 100 people and sent more than 163,000 seeking shelter.
Flooding that began last week, caused by unusually massive rains, destroyed highways and bridges in Rio Grande do Sul state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina.
“We lost everything,” said Adriana Freitas in the state capital of Porto Alegre, where the Guaiba River burst its banks and flooded city streets. “It’s gloomy to see the city, our home, in the middle of the water. It seems like it’s over, that the world has ended.”
At least 128 people are still missing, state civil defense authorities said, urging people living near the Patos lagoon south of Porto Alegre to leave their homes immediately.
Army soldiers used armored amphibious vehicles to rescue people from flooding in Canoas, north of the city, where water reached a depth of about three meters and streets are only allowed by boat.
A Reuters journalist saw a team of local volunteer rescuers find about 20 dogs trapped on the second floor of an abandoned factory, offering food to those who were too furious to take them on board.
Porto Alegre’s city hall warned civilian rescuers on Wednesday afternoon to cease operations given forecasts of rainfall, thunderstorms and winds exceeding 80 km per hour (50 mph).
In the Porto Alegre suburb of Eldorado do Sul, tractor driver Daniel Farias said he spent days ferrying survivors to safety, carrying entire families, including animals, on his wheel loader.
“I lived in this tractor with my children to survive this disaster. We believe this will pass,” an exhausted Farias told Reuters. He said he didn’t sleep much and ate less.
RISK OF MORE FLOODING
Brazil’s national disaster center warned that southern Rio Grande do Sul state was at “high risk” of further flooding, with rainfall expected to return after a low break.
Forecaster MetSul said in a statement that the region could face further “very immense” flooding “of sedate proportions”.
In neighboring Uruguay, storms and floods closed highways, displacing nearly 800 people and leaving more than 3,000 people without power, the government said.
In Brazil, many residents of Porto Alegre and its surrounding area – a city of 1.3 million people – are living in darkness after energy companies cut off electricity for safety reasons.
They face shortages of products, especially drinking water. Supermarket managers said there was no access for supply trucks or workers trying to get to work. Some supermarkets have introduced restrictions on the sale of mineral water.
Looting also hampered volunteer rescue operations after murky in Porto Alegre, with police providing security using boats and even jet skis.
“We will not go out to rescue people at night without an armed escort because it has become too risky,” volunteer Lauro Strogulski told Reuters.
