A devastating winter storm has ravaged Rio Grande do Sul, a state in southern Brazil, leaving eight dead and nineteen missing, according to state officials. Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed the fatalities, which include a four-month-old infant, and noted that the deaths occurred across seven cities. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the storm's intensity, with the infant tragically passing away before rescuers could reach the location.
Governor Leite emphasized the immediate priority of safeguarding lives and providing support and rescue to those affected. Two federal ministers from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration have traveled to the impacted region to offer assistance and coordinate investments for Rio Grande do Sul and the severely affected cities. Neighboring Santa Catarina state, also grappling with the storm's aftermath, will receive support as well.
Firefighters have undertaken over 2,400 rescue operations across 35 cities in Rio Grande do Sul hit by the tropical storm. The storm has caused widespread disruption, blocking numerous roads, canceling flights to major cities within the state throughout Friday, and causing power outages across the region. State officials are currently assessing the damage to roads and bridges to restore access to the most impacted areas.
Reports from affected city mayors indicate exceptionally high rainfall, with some areas receiving double the expected precipitation for the entire month of June in just 24 hours. One mayor reported over 11 inches of rain within a single day. Meteorologists have classified the storm as an extratropical cyclone, a weather system typically observed in mid-to-high latitudes.
