Civil Defense Issues Flooding Alerts Across Rio Grande do Sul as Guaíba Rises

The Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul has issued flooding alerts for multiple regions of the state following nearly two weeks of heavy rainfall. In Porto Alegre, an orange alert is in effect until Monday, June 3, due to the rising levels of Lake Guaíba. Authorities are monitoring the Arquipélago neighborhood and riverside areas in the south and extreme south of the city, where command posts have been established on the islands of Pintada, Marinheiros, and Flores, as well as in the Serraria neighborhood. The Guaíba level reached the attention quota at the Cais Mauá gauge and may hit the alert level of 2.5 meters. Five rivers, including the Jacuí, Taquari, Caí, Sinos, and Gravataí, are contributing to the rise of the Guaíba. Other areas of the state, including Uruguaiana and the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, are also under alert for river flooding. The National Civil Defense has recognized a state of emergency in the municipalities of São Sebastião do Caí and Feliz. Reports on the scale of the crisis vary between sources. One report states that 142 cities recorded damage since May 27, while another report citing National Civil Defense data indicates that 360 cities were affected, resulting in 395 homeless people, 914 displaced persons, and 8 injuries, though no deaths have been recorded. Damage includes fallen trees, destroyed homes, and power outages.