At least 2 people died and 2,000 displaced in heavy rain in southern Brazil
RIO De Janeiro (AP) – The state’s civil defense agency said Wednesday that heavy rains killed at least two people in Rio Grande Do Sul, a southern Brazil region, a record-breaking flood hit in the region on Wednesday for more than a year.
A 65-year-old man was also missing, with more than 2,000 people forced to flee their homes, the agency added.
The rains caused power outages, landslides, washed roads and collapsed bridges across the state.
Many affected areas were damaged during the floods in May last year, killing more than 100 people and promising measures to avoid repeating the drama.
“The country is better prepared,” the governor said on Wednesday on Wednesday, noting that response groups and investments have been strengthened in river dredging to reduce the risk of flooding.
Wright said some areas have been hit by 350mm (14 inches) since the weekend.
One of the confirmed deaths was a 54-year-old woman in Candelaria. Her husband is missing. The Civil Defense Agency said preliminary reports indicate that the couple tried to cross the flooded area and were swept away.
The agency advises people not to leave their homes, close doors and windows, and remove electronic devices from sockets.
Scientists say extreme weather occurs more frequently due to human-induced climate change.
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