On Friday night (3), data from the National Water Resources Information System revealed that the Guaíba River, in Rio Grande do Sul, reached the highest level of elevation ever recorded in the state’s history.
The water reached the mark of 4.77 meters, surpassing the historic floods of 1941, when the level reached 4.76 meters. This elevation represents a threat of the rupture of the protection dikes in Porto Alegre.
According to forecasts by state government technicians, the volume of the Guaíba River is expected to reach 5 meters in the coming days, further intensifying the risk of flooding and damage to areas near the river.
As a direct consequence of this scenario, Salgado Filho International Airport had its operations suspended indefinitely.
Governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB-RS) commented on the situation, highlighting that the protection systems installed in Porto Alegre and the Metropolitan Region are being put to the test by the extreme conditions of the river. However, he stressed that there is no guarantee that these structures will withstand the pressure of the waters.
Leite said that contingency measures are being adopted, such as the use of Army armored vehicles and sandbags to contain regions where there is an imminent risk of breaching the protective barriers.
The Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul has already confirmed the death of 39 people and the disappearance of 68 othersacross the state due to the storms.
The intense rains that began last Monday (29) continue to punish the region, leaving thousands of people homeless and displaced.
The scenario remains critical, with more rainfall forecast in the coming days, which could further aggravate the situation in the flood-affected areas.
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