after the partial collapse of the 14 de Julho dam in the city of Cotiporã, in Rio Grande do Sul, on Thursday afternoon (2), the Civil Defense issued a statement warning residents of regions close to the Taquari River to leave their homes.
The note advises that residents of the cities of Santa Tereza, Muçum, Roca Sales, Arroio do Meio, Encantado, Colinas and Lajeado leave risk areas and look for public shelters or another safe place to stay during the Taquari River level rise.
The state agency also states that the dam is in the process of collapsing and, for this reason, the Civil Defense works together with the response forces to remove families from risk areas.
According to the state governor, Eduardo Leite, the right abutment of the 14 de Julho dam collapsed. Through social media, Leite explained that as the levels of the previous and next sections of the dam were already high, there is no possibility of a flood. However, the governor highlighted that the river will remain free-flowing, meaning there is a tendency for floods to increase in cities from Santa Bárbara onwards.
The vice-governor, Gabriel Souza, responsible for the Crisis Office, also released a video alerting the population about the breach. “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”, said Souza.
For people who do not have alternative locations, the guidance is to contact your city's Civil Defense about public shelters provided by City Halls, escape routes and security points.
Ceran (Companhia Energética Rio das Antas) informed that the Emergency Plan was activated at 1:50 pm on Wednesday (1st). “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”, says the note.
Balance
The Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul announced, this Thursday morning (2), that 13 people died as a result of the heavy rains that hit Rio Grande do Sul.
Source: CNN Brasil
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