Brazil: Fierce Storm Causes Flooding, 22 Dead and Hundreds Displaced

An intense storm battered southern Brazil, causing severe flooding and killing at least 22 people. Several cities are now flooded, with the province of Rio Grande do Sul being the most affected.

At a news conference, Rio Grande do Sul Gov. Eduardo Leite stated that this fierce storm was a climate event classified as an extratropical cyclone. He also confirmed that about 60 cities had been hit by this storm in southern Brazil.

Governor Leite also confirmed that around 15 of those who died in the storm came from just one house in the city of Mucum, which has a population of around 50,000. The storm and the subsequent floods also left around 1,650 people homeless after it hit, according to the governor.

The governor also noted that one of the deaths included a woman who was swept away during a rescue attempt. "I regret the death of a woman in a rescue attempt over the Taquari River," he said on social media. "The wire broke, and she and a rescuer fell. Unfortunately, the woman did not survive and the rescuer is seriously injured."

According to the Associated Press, TV footage from the affected areas showed people being stranded on top of the roofs of their homes and pleading for help. Meanwhile, the Mucum City Hall advised residents to secure at least 72 hours' worth of supplies.

Residents Evacuate Areas Around Southern Brazil as Storm Batters Country

The extratropical cyclone that hit southern Brazil has also forced many in the area to evacuate their homes, with the severe flooding leaving many of them homeless. Among them is Luana da Luz, who spoke with Reuters regarding her experience with the evacuation efforts.

"Since dawn, we saw that (the water) was going to flood (our house) and we were putting things on top of the table, on top of the wood stove, but it didn't help," she said. Da Luz is from the town of Passo Fundo in Rio Grande Sul, the state which has the most casualties recorded at 21.

Meanwhile, another victim died in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, placing the death toll to at least 22.

Brazil's president, Lula, promised to send federal support to the people living in southern Brazil, vowing that his government would do whatever is necessary to "save people from these problems."

More Flooding Is Expected in Southern Brazil

It is not yet over for residents in Brazil, though, as France 24 reported that with the current rain forecast predicting more rain in the area, more flooding is expected as residents continue evacuating.

To make matters worse, Mayor Mateus Trojan of Mucum in Rio Grande do Sul told reporters that many people are still missing and that the death toll is expected to climb higher. He then lamented, "The town of Mucum as we knew it no longer exists."

It has been noted that Unchecked urbanization and irregular housing built on hillsides are making disasters such as severe flooding and landslides deadlier in Brazil. Around 203 million people are reportedly living in areas at high risk of flooding or landslides.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Cyclone kills at least 21 in southern Brazil, more floods expects • FRANCE 24 English