Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has been ravaged by unprecedented heavy rains, claiming at least 85 lives and leaving over 130 people missing. In a move to secure immediate aid and resources, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urgently requested Congress to declare a state of public calamity.
The flooding has wreaked havoc across more than two-thirds of the region's nearly 500 cities, displacing approximately 150,000 residents. Infrastructure has been severely impacted, with roads and bridges destroyed in multiple locations, further complicating rescue and relief efforts. In some areas, landslides have compounded the disaster, creating additional barriers to safe evacuation and access to essential services.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, emergency response teams are mobilizing to reach those stranded and provide critical support. The scale of the devastation underscores the pressing need for coordinated action and international assistance to aid in recovery and rebuilding efforts.
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Brazil's Lula seeks state of emergency after 85 die in rain-hit south
cgtn.com
