Death toll in Brazil flooding climbs to 75 as 80,000 people are evacuated | Global News

Massive flooding in southern Brazil has resulted in the deaths of 75 people, with over 100 still missing, as reported by local authorities on Sunday. The downpours that began in Rio Grande do Sul have forced more than 80,000 people to evacuate their homes since Monday. The situation has become dire, with 15,000 seeking refuge in temporary shelters and 800,000 left without access to water.

The flooding has caused widespread devastation, including landslides, collapsed bridges, and roads submerged under water throughout the state. In some areas, 11.8 inches of rain fell in less than a week, leading to water levels reaching their highest in 150 years, according to the Brazilian Geological Service.

State governor Eduardo Leite described the flooding as the worst in over 80 years, surpassing the events of 1941. He emphasized the need for a significant rebuilding effort, likening it to a “kind of ‘Marshall Plan’.” President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has visited the affected region to discuss rescue and relief efforts with the governor.

Pope Francis also acknowledged the tragedy during a mass at the Vatican, offering prayers for the victims and their families. The region’s susceptibility to extreme weather events has been attributed to its geographical location, where tropical and polar atmospheres converge, leading to intensified weather patterns exacerbated by climate change.

This recent disaster follows heavy rains last September, which resulted in floods that claimed the lives of more than 50 people, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the region due to changing climate conditions.