PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil is once again on high alert as the risk of flooding looms large, less than two weeks after devastating floods claimed the lives of at least 143 people.
Since Friday, intense rainfall has caused four rivers located about 100 kilometers west of the capital, Porto Alegre, to rise to alarming levels. The Guaiba lake, on the outskirts of Porto Alegre, is already overflowing in several areas and continues to rise.
According to researcher Fernando Fan from the Institute of Hydrological Research at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba river could surpass the record flood level of 5.35 meters recorded last week and reach 5.5 meters, posing a significant threat to the capital.
“We already have news of flooding in several cities. And this water will reach Guaiba and Porto Alegre,” Fan warned in an interview with a local radio station.
The state has been grappling with relentless rain since April 29, leading to storms, landslides, and floods that have displaced over 538,000 people and left 81,000 homeless in nearly 90% of the state’s cities.
Residents near the Taquari river, one of the four rivers experiencing rising water levels, are being urged to evacuate once again as the situation worsens. The mayor of Mucum, Mateus Trojan, expressed concerns about another major flooding event looming on the horizon.
As displaced residents anxiously watch the waters rise, the threat of yet another flood in the region has left many on edge, with memories of the recent devastation still fresh in their minds.