The mayor of Bento Gonçalves, Diogo Segabinazzi Siqueira, released a video this Thursday (02) informing that the 14 de Julho dam, in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, collapsed due to the heavy rain that has hit several cities in Rio Grande do Sul since the beginning of the week.
According to the mayor, The population needs to leave their homes as quickly as possible . The expectation, according to Diogo, is that the river will rise 2 to 4 meters after the dam collapse.
“We have now received information from Ceran, which controls the dams, that the 14 de Julho dam has just collapsed. The information that we need to pass on to all residents who live on the banks of Rio das Antas and Rio do Taquari is to leave this place as quickly as possible. The tendency is for this to rise by around 2 to 4 m. This is the trend that will happen in the next few minutes and hours in the municipalities further down, there in Taquari. Important: This is official information and we need to inform as many people as possible within the banks of the Rio das Antas and Rio Taquari.”
In a post on social media, the state governor, Eduardo Leite, confirmed the problem at the dam.
In another video, the vice-governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Gabriel Souza, said that The population living in risk areas needs to leave their homes . “What is the immediate guidance: It is not to wait, it is not to ask if it is true, because I am telling you with the maximum gravity that I can tell you. Leave the house and go up, beyond what is already placed, the rivers, six meters above. At least six meters above. Leave the areas below this quota, because the situation is really serious, very serious, and we need everyone to immediately follow this guidance, otherwise we risk losing many lives.”
What does the company responsible for the dam say?
By means of a note, Ceran (Companhia Energética Rio das Antas) informs that it detected at 1:40 pm, on May 2nd, the partial rupture of the right section of the dam at the 14 de Julho plant, due to the continuous increase in the flow of the Rio das Antas and the heavy rains that have hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul since Tuesday (30). Civil Defense was notified of the incident to take additional action.
“The Emergency Action Plan was put into practice on May 1, at 1:50 p.m., in coordination with the region's Civil Defenses, with the activation of evacuation sirens in the area, so that the local population could be evacuated in advance and in security. The Monte Claro and Castro Alves dams are in a state of Attention and continue to be monitored.”
“Ceran remains in contact with the competent authorities and emphasizes care for people. The company asks everyone to inform themselves through its official means of communication.”
*In update
Source: CNN Brasil
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