RS: video records moment when dike overflows in São Leopoldo | Brazil

The mayor of São Leopoldo (RS), Ary Vanazzi (PT), published on social media the recording of the moment when a flood protection dam overflowed in a pump room in the city, in Greater Porto Alegre. The area is in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos, which faced flooding after this week’s storms. In the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaíba River had a record high level, which caused streets in the center to flood.

According to Vanazzi, who called the situation “critical”, local authorities have already recommended the evacuation of the area where the protective dike is located. After the event center fills up, the homeless and evacuees are being taken to the Unisinos gym.

Flood protection dike of the Rio dos Sinos overflows, in the municipality of São Leopoldo, RS. The population has already been warned to evacuate the area.#The day

Credits: Reproduction/Social Networks pic.twitter.com/8sxGDQQyPs

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Rio Grande do Sul is facing its worst climate disaster, with 57 dead and 67 missing. Throughout the State, there are island regions. All the bridges over the Rio dos Sinos had water at their headwaters and access to São Leopoldo, for example, is blocked.

On Friday, the 3rd, the fear of shortages had already caused a rush to supermarkets in São Leopoldo and items began to go missing on the shelves.

Also on social media, Vanazzi asked for help with helicopters that could help rescue residents on the banks of the river, which continues to rise.

Also on social media, another mayor, Roca Sales, asked for help earlier to help rescue those trapped. “Roca Sales was practically destroyed again. I think that, of the floods, it was the one that destroyed the municipality the most. We can’t go anywhere. We have to go by boat. The situation is very complicated, very difficult”, said Amilton Fontana (MDB), on video.

According to the mayor, the city in the Rio Taquari region is without internet and he had to travel to Encantado to make the recording. Roca Sales was one of the municipalities most devastated by the passage of an extratropical cyclone accompanied by rain in September 2023.