New storms are forecast for Brazil's flooded Rio Grande do Sul region. Authorities say the expected rain will make rescue efforts difficult. More than 100 people have been killed so far by the devastating floods.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Floods in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul Claim Over 100 Lives, Spark Massive Rescue Efforts

The death toll from the catastrophic floods in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul has surpassed 100, with new storms forecasted for the region compounding the disaster. The severity of the flooding has prompted a massive mobilization of rescue efforts, particularly in the hardest-hit areas. In Porto Alegre, military resources have been repurposed to aid in the rescue missions, with a military cavalry field being converted into a makeshift airport to facilitate helicopter operations. These aerial rescue missions are critical to reaching and evacuating victims in the region, where thousands of homes have been submerged, and around 50,000 people have been severely affected.

Relief workers, accompanied by teams from Porto Alegre's fire department, are specially trained in evacuations and first aid, highlighting the critical nature of these rescue operations. These efforts have been further complicated by the refusal of some residents to leave their homes initially, with many later requesting help due to the lack of basic necessities such as food and water. The logistical challenges of reaching isolated areas only by helicopter underscore the severity of the flood's impact, particularly in a state as large as Rio Grande do Sul.

The Brazilian government has pledged an initial $4 billion for the immediate recovery effort, acknowledging the vast scale of the disaster. With over 70,000 people rendered homeless and another 200,000 seeking shelter with friends and family, the crisis has pushed local infrastructure to its limits. The lack of large airplanes for aid delivery, due to impenetrable roads and an absence of nearby airports, further complicates relief efforts. These challenges are exacerbated by the region's decreased ability to absorb water due to extensive urbanization.

Many affected residents have been forced to find makeshift shelters, with some taking refuge in high-rise walkways and other temporary accommodations. The prioritization of rescue missions suggests that it may be a considerable time before normality is restored for the nearly one million people impacted by the floods. This disaster, marked by the highest flood waters in the recorded history of Rio Grande do Sul, puts a spotlight on the urgent need for coordinated disaster response and recovery efforts in Brazil.



Brazil flood death toll hits 100 as government pledges aid

Porto Alegre's military cavalry field has been turned into an airport for helicopters to reach victims of unprecedented rain. We accompany a team of relief workers. From the air you can see what's left of a nearby city submerged in water from the worst floods in the history of Rio Grande do Sul, a state larger than many countries. Porto Alegre's firemen are specialised in evacuations and first aid. The chopper lands just long enough to get one team out, and another one in, to continue evacuating the 50,000 people who lived here before the deluge. Back at camp, the general in charge explains that helicopters are the only way to reach many areas. Many people didn't want to leave their homes, but a few days later they're now asking for help. They have no food or water, so this means we have to fly in more than once to evacuate people. That makes our work even harder. He's in charge of what they call the war room. Here, all the armed forces, the local and federal military police, local authorities and health services are coordinating efforts to help survivors of the catastrophe. But what is missing to try to deal with the situation are large airplanes, which we normally see in natural disasters, and that's because there are no airports nearby. And all the roads leading to this part of the country are impassable right now. The government has committed an initial $4 billion for the immediate recovery effort. But Brazil's communications minister tells Al Jazeera that's only the beginning. We have 70,000 people with nowhere to live, and we have more than 200,000 who have taken shelter with friends and family, which is unsustainable. And we don't know how long it will take for the waters to recede. In 1941, it took 32 days. Today, the metropolitan area has less ability to absorb water because of expanded urbanization. In the meantime, many are living in high-rise walkways, like this one. First we went to the neighbor's house because we thought the water wouldn't reach there, but it did. Then we came here to the arena walkway. But with rescue missions still the priority, it could take a long time before many of the nearly one million Brazilians impacted by this disaster have a roof over their heads again. Lucien Newman, Al Jazeera, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

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