Photos: Flooding in Brazil leaves at least 31 dead and 2,300 homeless

In a devastating turn of events, southern Brazil has been hit by severe flooding following a cyclone, resulting in the loss of at least 31 lives and leaving 2,300 people homeless. The storm, which began on Monday night, has caused widespread destruction in over 60 cities across Rio Grande do Sul state, making it the deadliest cyclone the region has ever experienced.

Governor Eduardo Leite expressed his shock at the scale of the disaster, stating, “The fly-over we just did shows the dimension of an absolutely out of the ordinary event. It wasn’t just riverside communities that were hit, but entire cities that were completely compromised.” The governor’s remarks were accompanied by a video posted on the state’s social media accounts, highlighting the extent of the damage caused by the flooding.

Rescue teams captured distressing scenes on Tuesday, as families were seen stranded on the rooftops of their houses, desperately pleading for help as rivers overflowed their banks. The force of the floodwaters transformed wide avenues into fast-moving rivers, effectively cutting off access to certain areas.

One particularly hard-hit city, Mucum, with a population of approximately 50,000 residents, suffered immense loss. Rescue workers discovered 15 bodies in a single house, highlighting the tragic consequences of the flooding. Once the storm subsided, residents were confronted with a trail of destruction along the river, with most buildings completely swept away, leaving only their foundations behind. Shocking images emerged, including a sheep hanging from an electrical line, serving as a grim reminder of the water’s unprecedented height.

“The water arrived very fast, it was rising two meters (6.5 feet) an hour,” shared Marcos Antonio Gomes, a resident of Mucum, as he stood atop a pile of debris. “We have nothing left. Not even clothes.” Gomes’ words encapsulate the despair and devastation experienced by countless individuals who have lost their homes and possessions in the wake of this natural disaster.