A winter blizzard swept through the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul on Saturday, killing eight people and leaving 19 others unaccounted for.
Gov. Eduardo Leite stated that one of the victims was a 4-month-old infant who perished before rescuers arrived. Seven cities have reported fatalities.
At a news conference with other authorities on Saturday, Leite stated, “This first moment, since Thursday night until now, is primarily to protect human lives, assist, and rescue people.”
Two ministers from the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva travelled to the state to demonstrate support and arrange investments for Rio Grande do Sul and other cities in a dire situation. They will also travel to the neighbouring state of Santa Catarina, which was also affected by the flooding.
In the 35 Rio Grande do Sul cities affected by the tropical storm, firefighters conducted 2,400 rescues.
Several roads were closed in Rio Grande do Sul on Friday, flights to the state’s major cities were postponed, and power was out across the state.
According to Leite, state officials are evaluating the damaged roads and bridges to see if access to the most impacted areas can be restored.
Mayors in affected communities reported that twice as much rain fell in 24 hours as would ordinarily be expected for the entire month of June.
Maquine’s mayor said on social media that the city received 11 inches of rain in a single day.
Experts believe the storm was an extratropical cyclone, a type of weather system that occurs more frequently in the middle and upper latitudes than in the tropics.
