In recent days a non tropical hurricane or storm system formed off the south coast of Brazil, unleashing severe flooding and contributing to a mounting death toll that now stands at least at 37 with 9 more people reported missing since the weekend, according to state officials this Wednesday. Authorities emphasize the rapid pace of the disaster as rivers rose and communities faced life threatening conditions across multiple municipalities.
The government of Rio Grande do Sul, the state hardest hit with a confirmed 36 fatalities, has declared a state of disaster to mobilize resources for rescue, relief, and rebuilding efforts. Governor Eduardo Leite described the event as the greatest natural tragedy in the state’s history and warned that the toll could climb as assessments continue and more data comes in from affected areas. The governor, alongside ministers from the federal administration led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, held a press briefing to stress the seriousness of the situation and to outline ongoing emergency measures. Officials urged residents in affected zones to remain vigilant as updates were issued about weather patterns and potential aftershocks of rainfall that could complicate rescue operations.
As the figure of evacuees climbs, the latest government briefing reported that 5,894 people were evacuated. This figure sits within a population of roughly 52,000 residents living across 79 municipalities affected by the storm’s impact. Local authorities have emphasized the scale of disruption, noting that many families have been displaced from their homes and are currently sheltering in temporary facilities or with relatives while authorities coordinate food, medical care, and security in vulnerable communities.
Field footage from the Taquari River area shows brown, turbid waters surging over riverbanks, rising several meters and lapping at treetops and the roofs of homes. The floodwaters have turned streets into rushing channels, forcing residents to seek higher ground or be rescued by helicopter, boat, or local volunteers. The dramatic imagery underscores the severity of the flood event and the urgency of search and rescue operations as crews work to reach communities cut off by high water levels.
Officials have defended the speed of the response, noting that 17 SMS alerts were issued to residents in the affected towns in an effort to disseminate timely warnings. Yet many people reportedly chose to remain in their homes rather than evacuate, hampered by a lack of resources or a fear of losing livestock, property, or livelihoods. Meteorologists and emergency planners stressed that the magnitude of this event exceeded early forecasts, complicating decisions in the moment and highlighting the challenges of predicting extreme rainfall in rapidly evolving weather systems.
Waldez Góes, a governor and regional development minister, acknowledged that the weather models used to forecast rainfall did not fully capture the actual intensity. In remarks cited by officials, he noted that rainfall totals exceeded expectations, with many areas receiving well above the projected figures. While river levels have begun to recede in some places, authorities warned that further precipitation is expected in the coming days, which could trigger additional flooding and create new hazards for communities still rebuilding and awaiting aid. The concerns extend to the possibility of renewed river surges, landslides, and road blockages that may delay relief efforts and hinder return plans for residents.
In addition to the main blow in Rio Grande do Sul, one fatality was reported in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina due to a tree collapse on Monday, illustrating the broader regional danger posed by the system. Rio Grande do Sul had previously experienced a devastating hurricane in June, which at the time marked the worst natural disaster in the state’s history and set a sobering benchmark for emergency management, response times, and long term recovery planning. The current event serves as a reminder of the persistent vulnerability of coastal southern Brazil to intense rainfall and flood phenomena, and it has triggered renewed calls for improved urban drainage, floodplain management, and early warning infrastructure to better protect communities in the future.