Death toll rises to 10 as deadly storms ravage southern Brazil

The Brazilian Civil Defence agency reported on Thursday that the death toll from severe storms battering the southern region of the country since Monday has climbed to 10, with 21 individuals still unaccounted for.

Governor Eduardo Leite announced the suspension of classes in the state of Rio Grande do Sul on Thursday, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva planned to visit the state to evaluate the devastation and allocate federal assistance.

Describing the situation as “dramatic,” Governor Leite emphasized the urgent need for aid to rescue individuals stranded in flooded residences. The forecast predicts continuous rainfall until Saturday, exacerbating the crisis.

Approximately 4,400 residents have been evacuated, and 107 cities have declared a state of emergency. In Santa Maria, a major city in the state, a mudslide occurred on Wednesday, accompanied by river overflows that destroyed bridges and roads.

The extreme weather in Rio Grande do Sul this year follows a series of nine extratropical cyclones in 2023, which resulted in over 100 fatalities due to flooding and mudslides.