Brazil Flood Deaths Rise To 90, Thousands Rendered Homeless As Govt Braces For Economic Impact

As the Brazil floods death toll rose, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a televised address promised to extend federal aid to the affected people.

Brazil Floods: Search & rescue operations continue amid destruction and submerged streets due to heavy rain and floods in Roca Sales, Rio Grande do Sul on May 7.

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As the Brazil floods entered the second week of the devastating situation, the death toll rose to 90. As per the state’s Civil Defence agency, apart from the 90 fatalities, four other deaths are being investigated. The flood has left thousands of people homeless, reported news agency Reuters.

While the rescue work is still in progress, the state capital of Porto Alegre has been virtually cut off because of the flooding. The flooding at various places has also slowed rescue efforts. Power cuts and lack of essentials and water have only worsened the situation. More than a million people have been directly or indirectly hit by the floods in Brazil.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on a government television programme promised to extend federal aid to the affected people. Recently, Lula da Silva took an aerial view of the southern Rio Grande do Sul to take stock of the situation and the extent of damage that the flood had caused. He was accompanied by several of his Cabinet members. However, in the official statement, the government has stated that until the waters of Brazil’s ‘worst ever climate disaster’ subside, it would not be easy to calculate the extent of the damage. 

The flood’s impact could also hit in Brazil’s GDP growth, as per JP Morgan economists, who have also predicted that Brazil's economy would be hit, with a marginally increased inflation, mainly due to a higher price of rice produced in Rio Grande do Sul. However, to curb the impact, the government is said to be importing rice to stabilize the market. 

According to climate experts, the El Niño phenomenon is behind the extreme rainfall in the state. It warms the waters of the Pacific and as a result, brings rain to southern Brazil. National Meteorology Institute (Inmet) researchers also stressed how global warming aggravates such phenomena, making weather unpredictable.