Torrential downpours pounding the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, which borders Argentina and Uruguay, have caused an unprecedented tragedy. Local authorities reported Thursday that at least 29 people have died and more than 60 remain missing. 

The extreme weather event, which dumped nearly four times the average rainfall for this time of year, has already impacted more than 70,000 residents across 154 municipalities, according to Civil Defense. 

“This is an absurdly exceptional situation. It’s not just another critical episode, it’s the most critical in the state’s history,” said Governor Eduardo Leite during a press briefing. He warned that the death toll “will unfortunately continue to rise” as several communities remain cut off. Leite urged residents to evacuate high-risk areas and cooperate with rescue teams working around the clock on land, water, and air. 

The state government declared a 180-day “state of public calamity” across Rio Grande do Sul, a move aimed at speeding up aid efforts and unlocking emergency resources. Meanwhile, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traveled to the region to personally express federal support. 

“The federal government will stand 100% with the people of Rio Grande do Sul. There will be no shortage of help to repair the damage and cover urgent needs,” Lula said, confirming that the Armed Forces are actively involved in rescue operations. 

Alô, presidente! 📞
Conversei por vídeochamada com a Meire, que teve seu lar destruído pelas enchentes do ano passado no Rio Grande do Sul, mas que já tem uma casa nova para chamar de sua!

Meire morava no bairro Mathias Velho, em Canoas (RS), e foi uma das primeiras… pic.twitter.com/ebFnYY40RH

— Lula (@LulaOficial) April 30, 2025

So far, eight aircraft and more than 600 military personnel have been deployed, with the number potentially rising to 1,500 in the coming days. The crisis worsened on Thursday when the Antas River dam collapsed under the pressure of excess water. Residents had been evacuated beforehand, but officials fear that five other dams in the area could also fail. 

Official figures after the storm

According to Civil Defense, about 10,000 people have taken shelter with relatives or friends, while nearly 5,000 are staying in temporary shelters.

For the state’s 11 million residents, the disaster adds to a year already marked by extreme weather linked to El Niño. Last September, a powerful extratropical cyclone claimed more than 40 lives. 

The emergency has once again put climate change in the spotlight in Brazil, where increasingly severe storms, droughts, and floods are hitting communities with unprecedented force.