Historic floods hit Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
A powerful atmospheric river began affecting Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on April 29, 2024, resulting in massive flooding across the region. By early May 6, 2024, the storm affected 334 of the state’s 496 cities, including the capital Porto Alegre, claimed at least 143 lives, left over 130 people missing, and impacted more than 2.1 million residents. This severe weather event is described as the most disastrous in the state since 1941, surpassing previous records in terms of both scope and damage.
In a span of 96 hours, starting late afternoon on Monday, April 29, regions like Segredo recorded rainfall of 448 mm (17.6 inches), while Lagoa Bonita do Sul and Faxinal do Soturno reported 410 mm (16.1 inches) and 371 mm (14.6 inches) respectively.
This amount of rainfall, typically spread over two months, occurred in just 4 days, causing widespread flooding and destruction throughout the region, the full scale of which only became clear after several days. Some areas, particularly the Lagoa dos Patos region and its surroundings, where vast amounts of water from Greater Porto Alegre are expected to converge, are still bracing for the worst this week.
“The numbers make it clear,” MetSul meteorologists said on April 30. “We are facing an exceptional rain event in Rio Grande do Sul, favored by an unusual climate situation in South America with an unusual hot air mass for this time of year over the states of Central Brazil.”
The situation, already critical, was expected to worsen according to their forecasts as more heavy rains were expected across the region through the end of the week.
On May 1, Governor Eduardo Leite expressed the gravity of the situation in a press briefing. “We are experiencing in Rio Grande do Sul the worst moment, the worst disaster in our history. It is absolutely, absurdly, extraordinarily serious what is happening in Rio Grande do Sul right now,” Leite said. “And unfortunately, it will get worse.”
He expressed grave concerns about the situation worsening and confirmed his communication with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seeking federal assistance to manage what he referred to as akin to “facing a war.”
On May 2, a dam between Bento Gonçalves and Cotiporã partially collapsed, flooding entire cities like Lajeado and Estrela in the Taquari River valley. Rescue operations intensified, with helicopters frequently airlifting families trapped on rooftops amidst the continued blackout affecting telecommunications and power.
On Friday morning (LT), May 3, massive floodwaters surged through the state capital, Porto Alegre (population 1.3 million) as water levels of the Guiaba River surpassed the April/May 1941 record of 4.76 m (15.6 feet).
“Porto Alegre stopped,” MetSul meteorologists said on May 3. “With the waters advancing through the central area and reaching city landmarks such as the Public Market, City Hall, and even Rua da Praia, the authorities’ appeals were to leave the region.”
RESGATE IMPRESSIONANTE | Vídeo mostra militar da Aviação do Exército quebrando telhado para resgatar um bebê e sua família em Lajeado, no Vale do Taquari. As imagens foram captadas pela câmera do capacete do Sargento Lucas Ferreiro Leite. pic.twitter.com/QmALMpxq7N
— SBT RS (@sbtrs) May 4, 2024
“People rushed to get off work and the “heart” of the city was practically deserted. Where thousands of people would be working and walking the streets on a normal day, all you could see was water. This is what MetSul witnessed and was also able to record in the Fourth District, where in scenes never seen since 1941, the waters of the Guaíba were just a few meters away from reaching Avenida Farrapos.”
On Saturday, May 4, the Historic Center of Porto Alegre was under water and the only way to travel was by boat.
Porto Alegre
— Jonathas Costa (@jonathasac) May 4, 2024
Barco passando pela Borges de Medeiros@correio_dopovo @RdGuaibaOficial pic.twitter.com/G3684Mj0NC
Guaíba continued to rise throughout the day and for the first time in history it surpassed the 5 m (16.40 feet) mark. At the beginning of Saturday night, according to information from the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul, the level was 5.27 m (17.29 feet). On Sunday, it was stable at 5.29 m (17.3 feet).
“There were no bombs or missiles hitting the cities, but what was witnessed this Saturday in Porto Alegre and other cities in the metropolitan region reminded us of scenes from a war zone, in what was quite possibly the most dramatic day ever experienced by Greater Porto Alegre,” MetSul said on Sunday, May 5.
Catastrophic floods affected practically all cities in Greater Porto Alegre, with residents appealing for rescue on the roofs of their homes, people seeking refuge on viaducts and other elevated places, a frantic pace of vessels carrying out rescues and the constant flights of helicopters crossing the sky of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
“On the city’s streets and avenues, emergency vehicle traffic was constant. Vehicles from the EPTC, Military Brigade, Municipal Guard and Fire Department could be seen at all times. Joining the efforts were members of the Civil Police and even the Federal Police, as well as military personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force.”
#OperaçãoTaquariII
— Força Aérea Brasileira (@fab_oficial) May 5, 2024
Força Aérea Brasileira: SEMPRE PRESENTE ONDE O BRASIL PRECISAR!
Coordenação: Comando de Operações Aeroespaciais (COMAE)#FAB #AsasQueProtegemOPaís #ANossaForçaOndeOBrasilPrecisar #FAB24hNoAr #AsasQueSalvam #Military #AjudaHumanitária #ForçaRS #COMAER #COMAE… pic.twitter.com/jVjaofrvO8
AGORA | Frenético ritmo de resgates de pessoas na enchente por jipeiros e voluntários na Avenida Cairu com Benjamin Constant. @metsul pic.twitter.com/LPrbHt0Hor
— MetSul Meteorologia (@metsul) May 4, 2024
IMAGEM | Em 1941, na última grande enchente, o @Gremio jogava na Baixada do Moinhos de Vento e o @SCInternacional na Chácara dos Eucaliptos (Menino Deus). Arena (2012) e Beira-Rio (1969) enfrentam sua primeira grande enchente. @Ducker_Gremio – Vilella Films e @MaxPeixoto91. pic.twitter.com/M3h3wbUXGU
— MetSul Meteorologia (@metsul) May 6, 2024
IMAGEM | Quem estava em Porto Alegre no final de janeiro de 2013 recorda certamente do tráfego constante de helicópteros com vítimas da tragédia da Kiss. Hoje, o vai-e-vem de helicópteros é muito maior no céu da capital com resgates em Porto Alegre e cidades vizinhas @metsul pic.twitter.com/RchH4rYcNl
— MetSul Meteorologia (@metsul) May 5, 2024
AGORA | O @gnuniao abriu seu ginásio da sede do Moinhos de Vento na Quintino Bocaiuva para acolher desabrigados e utiliza as suas embarcações da sede da Ilha do Pavão para resgatar pessoas nas ilhas de Porto Alegre. GNU pic.twitter.com/Xy5ubTObRm
— MetSul Meteorologia (@metsul) May 5, 2024
ATUALIZAÇÃO: Mais de 150 pessoas e 20 animais são salvos pela PMESP no Rio Grande do Sul
— Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo (@PMESP) May 5, 2024
Confira: https://t.co/xLAmRCG2G7 pic.twitter.com/HGpyB6UOCi
AGORA | Enchente catastrófica e sem precedentes em São Leopoldo, na Grande Porto Alegre. Todas as cidades da região metropolitana, onde vivem cerca de 4 milhões, sofrem efeitos da chuva e das enchentes dos rios. WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/vQHlBMr4yn
— MetSul Meteorologia (@metsul) May 5, 2024
Emergency responders, employing various means including jetskis, continue their efforts to reach and rescue stranded victims.
In the Taquari Valley, the central part of the state, and the Serra region, river levels have been consistently decreasing since the end of last week, signaling that the worst may be over in these areas. However, the situation remains dire in Porto Alegre and its surrounding metropolitan areas, according to MetSul Meteorologia.
In the Vale do Sinos, the Rio dos Sinos has started to recede but still maintains exceptionally high levels. The peak flow is expected to occur early this week in the lower parts of the basin, particularly between Esteio and Canoas. Despite the receding waters, extensive flooding continues to affect numerous cities along the BR-116 corridor from Campo Bom to Canoas. In Canoas, water levels are predicted to remain at dramatically high marks.
In Porto Alegre, the Guaíba River reached a significant height of 5.30 m (17.38 feet) on May 6, surpassing the historic 1941 level by over 50 cm (1.6 feet). Current trends indicate a move towards stabilization, with expectations for the river level to drop below 5 m (16.4 feet) between Monday and Tuesday, May 7,and further decrease below the overflow level of 3 m (9.8 feet) over the course of the week.
The unfolding scenario is particularly concerning for the Lagoa dos Patos region and its vicinity, where the vast amounts of water from Greater Porto Alegre are expected to converge.
Coastal cities such as Pelotas and Rio Grande are bracing for severe flooding this week, as the regional water dynamics continue to pose significant challenges.
The official figures by early Monday, May 6 painted a grim picture: 103 residents of Porto Alegre were missing, and 88 000 had been displaced.
As of May 7, the natural disaster had led to 83 confirmed deaths, while 839 000 residences lacked water supply and 421 000 were without electricity. 111 people are missing and 276 others have been injured.
More than 1.4 million people are without electricity, 48 cities are cut off from telecommunications, Porto Alegre city is isolated due to the flooded roads and flights at the main airport have been suspended, as of May 8.
On May 8, the death toll increased to 95, the number of missing to 131, and the number of injured to 372.
By May 12, the death toll further increased to 143. The number of missing is now 130 and the number of injured 806.
In addition, almost 540 000 people have been displaced and more than 2 115 000 others have been affected across 446 municipalities.
References:
1 Catastrophic floods hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, leaving at least 55 dead, over 70 missing – The Watchers – May 2, 2024
2 ENCHENTE SUPERA A DE 1941 E SE TORNA A MAIOR DA HISTÓRIA DE PORTO ALEGRE – MetSul Meteorologia – May 4, 2024
3 CATÁSTROFE EM PORTO ALEGRE: BARCOS NAS RUAS DO CENTRO HISTÓRICO – MetSul Meteorologia – May 4, 2024
Featured image credit: President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
All these extreme climate events are because of the emission of CO2 and if you do not believe that then you are climate change denier. That is not a complete outrage?