Brazil Floods: Lula Visits State Affected by Severe Floods as Death Toll Reaches 29

Brazil President Lula has now arrived in the state of Grande do Sul after severe rains caused flooding that led to dozens of deaths in the state. As Lula arrived there, the death toll has now risen to 29, with the floods also devastating the state's farming industry.

According to Reuters, the severe rains and flooding have now displaced 10,242 residents, with 60 people still missing. A state of public calamity has been declared to handle the disaster as the state's civil defense authorities continue their search and rescue operations.

"It's not just another critical case; it's the most critical that the state will probably have recorded in its history," said Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite during a live broadcast on social media, where he also admitted that this year's flooding was worse than what happened last year.

The heavy rains and flooding also caused a small hydroelectric power plant to burst on Thursday, leaving over 300,000 people without electricity, according to the state's main utility company.

As for Lula, the Brazilian president flew over to the affected areas and met with the governor for an emergency meeting already. He has already pledged support to the federal government for the affected state.

"I told the governor and my ministers that the federal government will make every effort. ... We will take care of this with great care and respect," said Lula during the meeting with Governor Leite.

"President Lula, please immediately send as much air support as possible for RS [Rio Grande do Sul]. We need to rescue hundreds of people in dozens of municipalities who are in an emergency due to the intense rain which has already fallen and which is going to continue falling in coming days," the governor previously wrote on X, begging for Lula's support.

The president responded and vowed that the federal government would "join the efforts of state government and municipalities to get through this difficult time, which is the result of climate change affecting the planet."

Heavy Rains and Floods in Brazil Lead to Landslides, Residents Stranded on Rooftops

The rains and flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul have made search and rescue operations even more complicated, as flooding was so bad that helicopters have been unable to land. This meant that the helicopter-bound rescuers had to lift residents stranded on rooftops to safety.

Two of the people who died were swept away by the floodwaters in the small town of Paverama, while another was killed in a landslide in Salvador do Sul, per the BBC. Several bridges have also collapsed, and dozens of streets have been rendered impassable.

Brazil Floods Interrupt Important Corn and Soy Harvests in One of Brazil's Biggest Farming States

Rio Grande do Sul is considered one of the largest farming states in Brazil, being the country's second-largest soybean and sixth-largest corn-producing state. The harvest of these two important crops has been disrupted by the floods, especially as it has now entered the final stages of its harvest.

So far, the state has already harvested 76% of its soy-producing farmlands when the heavy downpours disrupted the harvest. By now, the state would have harvested 83% of its crops, according to Reuters.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Brazil floods: Governor warns of historic disaster in south - Al Jazeera English