Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil - May 31, 2024

The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul received in May almost five times more rainfall than the normal average for the period and completed a month of the worst environmental catastrophe in its history, with rains that have left severe damage to industry and agriculture and at least 169 dead and more than 600,000 evacuated, the government said Wednesday.

According to the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet), the city of Porto Alegre, the state capital, recorded this month the highest amount of rainfall in its history since measurements began in 1916, reaching a record 539.6 millimetres of rainfall compared to the monthly average of 112.8 millimetres.

Inmet meteorologist Marcelo Schneider explained in an interview with the local "Radio Gaucha" that there are three factors that caused these excessive rains: the El Nino phenomenon, which began in 2023 with a strong intensity; the wave of hot air that invaded the central region of Brazil and climate change, which caused an abnormal warming of the Atlantic Ocean in recent months.

Following the rains that began on 29 April, Porto Alegre, which has 1.4 million inhabitants, is experiencing the greatest tragedy in its history, as more than half of the territory was flooded by the Guaiba River, which has now been lowered with the help of drainage pumps sent especially for the area.

SHOTLIST
1. Several of the streets of Porto Alegre.