State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - May 15, 2024

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The capital of Brazil's southernmost state could suffer severe flooding in the coming weeks, experts warn, compounding the struggles of half a million people forced to flee their flooded homes.

Parts of Rio Grande do Sul state have seen more than 630 mm (25 inches) of rain so far this month, the national weather service INMET reported, more than London's average rainfall in a year.

The waters of Lake Guaiba, which overflowed and flooded the state capital Porto Alegre, have risen again this week to 5.22 metres (17.13 feet), well above the flood level of 3.0 metres and close to last week's all-time record of 5.33 metres (17.13 feet).

Meteorologists and engineers at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) said water levels could stabilise or continue to rise if it rains again. They said it could be a month before the water recedes below flood levels, based on historical comparisons.

With images in association with Leonardo Koenich Botelho.

This footage illustrates floods in the capital of Brazil's southernmost state.