Rio de Janeiro: A cyclone wreaked havoc in southern Brazil, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 11 individuals and displacing thousands from their homes.
The extra-tropical cyclone struck Rio Grande do Sul state on Thursday and Friday, initially leaving 20 people missing, but that number has since been reduced to 10.
Among the victims was a four-month-old baby. Local media aired distressing footage of a car being swept away by powerful winds and submerged in a cemetery. The situation was described as nightmarish by a woman in the town of Sao Leopoldo, who expressed gratitude for the prompt arrival of firefighters and their assistance in evacuating residents via boats.
Helicopter evacuations were also carried out, with a total of 3,713 individuals left with damaged houses and 697 being relocated from high-risk areas due to the cyclone's impact between Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, Rio Grande do Sul governor Eduardo Leite, accompanied by government and rescue officials, surveyed the hardest-hit regions by helicopter. In Caraa, one of the worst-affected towns, the governor visited a community center that served as a shelter for hundreds of individuals whose homes had been damaged. The town has a population of over 8,000.
Expressing concern about the situation in Caraa, Governor Leite emphasized the need for an integrated approach to rapidly identify the main affected areas and provide support to those in need. He also highlighted the efforts of state firefighters who had successfully rescued approximately 2,400 people over the past two days. Safeguarding and saving lives remained their primary objective, along with locating missing individuals and assisting affected families, reported AFP.
Brazil has endured a series of deadly weather disasters in recent years, exacerbated by the effects of climate change. In February, heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo, resulting in the loss of at least 65 lives.