A dike in the Sarandi neighborhood, in the north of Porto Alegre, began to overflow on Saturday morning (4). The leak of the structure, responsible for damming the Gravataí River, made the authorities recommend the evacuation of the region and residents rushed to leave the place .
The capital of Rio Grande do Sul is facing electricity and water supply problems, has blocked access and operations at Salgado Filho Airport have been suspended.
Early in the morning, Mayor Sebastião Melo (MDB) asked the population to leave the area as quickly as possible. The alert is aimed, in particular, at residents close to the Federation of Industries and Commerce of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs), and villages Asa Branca, Minuano, Elizabeth, Nova Brasília and Santo Agostinho.
“This morning the leak started over the dike. That's why I want to invite them to accept it, to leave their homes and come to the city hall's shelters, because we can lose material goods, life won't come back”, appealed Melo on social media.
The mayor also asked residents of neighboring areas to Arena do Grêmio, in the north of the capital, to leave their homes due to the lake flooding Guaíba, which exceeded the level of 5 meters (the flood level is 3 meters).
Resident of Vila Agostinho, Marlene Vargas, 57 years old, was already in front of her house late in the morning, waiting for her husband to take the furniture and other belongings to her family's house. The water, which overflowed the dike, already reached the shins of the woman from Porto Alegre.
“Civil Defense advised us to evacuate immediately. I'm waiting for my husband to pick up the things, the dogs, and look for a safe place. Unfortunately we have to leave. Soon they will turn off the lights, cut off the water, and it will be impossible to stay at home when everything is flooded,” said she, who lives with her elderly mother.
See images of flooding in Porto Alegre
Source: CNN Brasil
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