In Porto Alegre, the Guaíba River overflows and water invades Cais Mauá

With the increase in the volume of rain in Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaíba River exceeded its quota flood, in Porto Alegre, and the waters invaded Cais Mauá. The river, the main waterway that crosses the state, is at a level of 3.09 meters, while the flood level limit is 3 meters.

• Non-RS chuvas: Dam in Caxias do Sul is at risk of rupture; city ​​hall issues warning and evacuates area
• Update: Government of Rio Grande do Sul declares state of public calamity

Due to the situation, Porto Alegre city hall closed the containment floodgates of the flood protection system, to prevent flooding in the central region of the city. The Guaíba flood was already predicted, it receives water from several river basins, such as Caí, Taquari and Sinos.

Request for people to leave risk areas

The Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul sent an alert about the condition of the Guaíba and advised residents who live close to the river, in risk areas, to leave their homes

” It is expressly advised that residents of areas close to Guaíba, in the municipalities of Porto Alegre (southern zone), Guaíba and Eldorado do Sul, leave risk areas and seek public shelters or another safe place to stay during the elevation of level of the Caí River.

People who do not have alternative locations should seek information from their city’s Civil Defense about public shelters made available by City Halls, escape routes and security points”, informs the note.

Increase in the volume of the Guaíba River

The increase in the volume of the Guaíba River began on Wednesday afternoon, and led authorities to begin a strategy to contain the flood and evacuation of nearby locations. This Thursday, the local Fire Department ordered the population to leave the banks of the Taquari, Sinos Gravataí, Caí, Jacuí and Ibicuí rivers, as well as the slopes of hills or very steep terrain, according to the Correio do Povo portal. They also defend the evacuation of the neighborhoods Arquipélago, Aberta dos Morros, Restinga, Ponta Grossa, Belém Novo, Serraria, Humaitá, Navegantes and Hípica.

What is the weather forecast for the Guaíba River (RS) area?

MetSul’s report this Thursday morning points out that, as there is still more rain expected for the next few days, the worst of the flood is expected to occur at the weekend, and next week in the Guaíba area. They assess, however, that “it is not possible to estimate the exact height that Guaíba could reach”, but it is possible that it could exceed the 3 meter level — the last time the flood reached that level at this time of year was in 1941.

During the night, Mayor Sebastião Melo (MDB) ordered the closure of the Cais Mauá floodgates to contain the rise in level when the measurement made by the city hall was at 2 meters. The measure was defined together with municipal bodies.

In the early hours of the morning, the state’s Civil Defense also warned of flooding on the Gravataí River, which crosses municipalities in the metropolitan region of Rio Grande do Sul.

State of public calamity in Rio Grande do Sul

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB), declared a state of public calamity due to more than 100 municipalities impacted by the storm in the state. Decree was published on Wednesday night in the Official Gazette and will remain in force for 180 days. In total, 10 people died and at least 21 are missing.

What is the state of public calamity?

Measure highlights the severity of rain impacts, floods, hail, floods, floods and windstorms in the State, being categorized as Level III disasters, classified by substantial damage and losses.

Furthermore, it establishes that the bodies and entities of the state public administration must provide immediate support to affected areasin close collaboration with the State Coordination of Protection and Civil Defense.

The text also provides for the possibility for affected municipalities to request similar assistance, whose requests will be evaluated and approved by the State, ensuring an agile and coordinated response to the emergency.

Lula speaks out about the rain tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) spoke about the tragedy, this Tuesday (30), and said that the federal government provides full support to the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

“I spoke by telephone with the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, and made the federal government available to Rio Grande do Sul, which is once again suffering from heavy rains. I spoke with the ministries of Integration, Defense and Minister Paulo Pimenta and, in Whatever is necessary, the federal government will join the efforts of the state government and city halls to get us through and overcome this difficult moment, a reflection of climate change affecting the planet”, wrote Lula on his X, formerly Twitter.

Rains in Rio Grande do Sul: