The Federal Highway Police (PRF) made two helicopters available to be sent to Rio Grande do Sul, which will assist victims of heavy rains in the state.
The first aircraft left Paraná this Wednesday (1), but due to bad weather it was unable to reach the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Agents wait at the border with Santa Catarina. They are expected to arrive this Thursday morning (2).
The other helicopter will leave Minas Gerais this Thursday to help rescue the missing and homeless.
Due to the storms and fallen trees and bridges, dozens of highways are closed in the state, making it difficult for help to arrive in some municipalities.
A report released by the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul late yesterday afternoon shows that 114 cities in Rio Grande do Sul were hit by the heavy rains that have been affecting the state since Monday (29). At least ten deaths have been confirmed. Another 11 people are injured.
In total, 19,110 people were affected in Rio Grande do Sul by events such as floods, landslides, river overflows and landslides. The latest balance shows that 3,416 people are homeless and 1,072 are in shelters.
Of the total of ten deaths, two occurred in Paverama and two in Salvador do Sul. The other municipalities that recorded fatal victims were Pântano Grande, Itaara, Encantado, Segredo, Santa Maria and Santa Cruz do Sul.
Also this Thursday, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and ministers will go to Santa Maria (RS) to see the damage up close and provide federal government support to the municipalities.
Other helicopters
In addition to the PRF aircraft, Rio Grande do Sul received support from the Brazilian Air Force, which made available two H-60 Black Hawk helicopters, from the Fifth Squadron of the Eighth Aviation Group (5th/8th GAV), stationed at the Base Santa Maria Air Station (BASM).
In one of the support actions, FAB rescued a family that was stranded in a house at risk of collapsing (water entering the house), which was lifted and transported from the Candelária region to Santa Cruz.
Due to time and weather conditions, the operation is assisted with the use of night vision goggles (NVG).
The Army also sent two aircraft this Wednesday (1⁰) to reinforce aid to victims of the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
Pantera K2 model helicopters, from the Army's 2nd Aviation Battalion, took off from Taubaté, in the interior of São Paulo, to Porto Alegre.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
