The death toll in Brazil continues to rise after an extratropical cyclone ripped through Rio Grande do Sul killing 31 people. About 60 cities were hit with torrential rains and strong gusts of wind that forced 4,000 people to evacuate.
The governor of the region, Eduardo Leite, first reported the deaths of 31 people. Fifteen of them, he said, had died in the city of Muçum, where the rains left much of the city under water, forcing neighbors to take refuge on the roof of their houses.
I recently announced that a state of public calamity has been declared in Rio Grande do Sul due to the floods, which have left 31 dead. We are mobilizing to rescue the victims and rebuild everything destroyed by the storm.
Anunciei há pouco a decretação de estado de calamidade pública no Rio Grande do Sul por conta das cheias que já deixam 31 mortos. Estamos mobilizados para resgatar as vítimas e reconstruir tudo que foi destruído pela tempestade.
— Eduardo Leite (@EduardoLeite_) September 6, 2023
Rescue efforts continue in Brazil
On Tuesday, however, he announced an update and said that six other people had died as a result of the storm. The deaths, Leite said, were located in the city of Roca Sales, in the Taiquiri Valley:
I have just received confirmation of six other deaths in the city of Roca Sales, in the Taquari Valley. We mourn each of the lives lost and are working to do everything we can to rescue people in the worst-affected areas. Our teams have already rescued thousands of people.
Recebi, há pouco, a confirmação de mais 6 mortes, no município de Roca Sales, no Vale do Taquari. Lamentamos cada vida perdida e estamos trabalhando para fazer todos os resgates possíveis nas regiões mais atingidas. Milhares de pessoas já foram salvas por nossas equipes.
— Eduardo Leite (@EduardoLeite_) September 6, 2023
The death toll could continue to rise in the coming hours. According to Euronews, this Wednesday the water level began to drop, which makes it easier for emergency services to get to the most affected areas.
