The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, ordered, in Porto Alegre, the deployment of fleets and rescue teams to four regions where there is a greater risk of disruption, given the forecast of new heavy rains and a rise in the level of the state’s rivers. .
The areas defined at the meeting in the state Civil Defense Situation Room to receive greater preventive attention are the Caí and Taquari valleys, the Serra Gaúcha and the north coast. The state Civil Defense issued a warning about new extreme events in effect until 4pm on Wednesday (19).
Effective
Four aircraft, vessels from the Military Brigade and the Rio Grande do Sul Military Fire Brigade and military agents are being mobilized to carry out rescue operations. In the air fleet, three vehicles are from Rio Grande do Sul and one from the state of São Paulo. The Rio Grande do Sul government is also seeking support from the Armed Forces to place more aircraft and vessels in place.
Troops specialized in landslide areas and search dogs are also being deployed, because, according to predictions from the state Civil Defense Situation Room, in the Caí and Taquari valleys, the risk is of new floods, while in the Serra Gaúcha and on the coast north, of landslides.
“Our focus is to guarantee people’s safety and preserve lives”, said Governor Eduardo Leite.
Flood risk
The state Civil Defense issued a warning about areas with hydrological risk, due to the high levels in the state’s hydrographic regions.
According to the forecast, heavy rains over the state will put residents in the Guaíba hydrographic region on alert until tomorrow, with the Taquari and Caí rivers already above the flood level. Civil defense warns that these rivers could reach more critical levels.
Regarding other rising rivers, there is a risk of flooding in the basins of the Uruguay hydrographic region: Apuaê-Inhandava, Passo Fundo, Várzea, Turvo-Santa Rosa-Santo Cristo, Ijuí, Piratinim, Butuí-Icamaquã and Ibicuí rivers; and also from the Guaíba hydrographic region: Taquari-Antas, Caí, Alto and Baixo Jacuí and Pardo. In the hydrographic region of Uruguay, the rivers are in normal condition, with the exception of the Ijuí River, which is under observation.
Regarding the levels of Lake Guaíba, the Institute of Hydraulic Research (IPH) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul predicts, in a bulletin at 12pm this Tuesday, an increase in the levels of Guaíba in the coming days, which should reach the alert level, stipulated at 3.15 meters. “The increase is the result of the heavy rains that have occurred in recent days, causing an increase in the volumes of tributary rivers and the levels predicted for Guaíba. Oscillations must occur due to the effects of winds. It is necessary to carefully monitor the observed rainfall, considering the uncertainty of the weather forecast”, says the report.
The hydrological data of rivers and lakes collected by the Department of Water Resources and Sanitation of the State Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema/RS) can be seen on the website.
Meteorological risk
Another alert from the state Civil Defense concerns areas at meteorological risk, caused by intense rains and possible gusts of wind, mainly impacting the northern half of the state. Accumulated rainfall can reach 50 millimeters (mm) per day, and can exceed 90 mm/day in the regions of Missões, Campanha, Vales and Serra Gaúcha and the northwest of the state. The storms will cause winds that can exceed 70 kilometers (km) per hour, while in the southern half they vary between 40 and 50 km/h.
This weekend, at least 19 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul suffered damage due to intense rain and recorded new disruptions, flooding and also landslides. They are: Arvorezinha, Bento Gonçalves, Boqueirão do Leão, Canela, Capão da Canoa, Caxias do Sul, Coqueiro Baixo, Dom Pedro de Alcântara, Igrejinha, Mampituba, Maquiné, Pareci Novo, Parobé, Roca Sales, São Luiz Gonzaga, Rio Pardo , São Vendelino, Três Coroas, Vale Real.
Specifically in São Luiz Gonzaga, a microexplosion occurred, a phenomenon characterized by heavy rain in a short space of time, generally accompanied by intense gusts of wind. The incident left 400 people homeless, one injured and affected around 15,000 people.
(With information from Agência Brasil)
Source: CNN Brasil
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