Heavy rains leave one dead and one missing in Rio Grande do Sul

With the rains that hit the state of Rio Grande in the South this Monday (29), a 69-year-old man died while trying to cross a flooded area by car in Paverama, a municipality in Vale do Taquari, central region of the state.

The vehicle was swept away by the force of the current. According to the state's Civil Defense, the other occupant of the car, a 65-year-old man, is missing. Searches continue to be carried out in the region.

In total, 65 municipalities reported some type of damage or occurrence resulting from intense rain to Civil Defense. There were also windstorms, electrical discharges, mass movements, hailstorms, flooding in urban areas and the overflow of streams, streams and rivers in several municipalities, as well as road interruptions due to falling barriers and other damage.

According to the Federal Highway Police (PRF), on BR 386, at kilometer 304, in Pouso Novo, the fall of the barrier completely blocked the roads in one direction. At kilometer 307, another fall blocked the highway in both directions. At kilometer 311, in Marques de Souza, the collapse of a barrier completely blocked one of the directions. Traffic is operating on a “stop and go” system in the opposite lane. On BR 116, between kilometers 175 and 181, there is a total blockage in both directions, in Nova Petrópolis.

In the state, there are 127 people in public shelters and another 107 homeless, who left their homes and sought shelter in the homes of relatives and friends.

Civil Defense recommends that the population adopt preventive measures, such as staying at home if possible, avoiding crossing flooded or flooded areas and seeking to provide assistance to vulnerable people, such as the elderly, sick people or those with mobility difficulties. In case of emergency, the agency recommends calling the Military Brigade on 190, or the Fire Department on 193.