Porto Alegre, Brazil - June 4, 2024

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Catastrophic flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state, has already claimed the lives of at least 169 people and displaced more than 581,000 across the state, home to 11 million people.

This was the third major flood for Rio Grande do Sul in the last year, and there are signs that severe weather events like this will become more frequent due to climate change.

Although the federal government has already announced resources in the order of 77.5 billion reais ($14.9 billion) in aid to Rio Grande do Sul, mayors and other local authorities are seeking to relocate entire neighborhoods away from high-risk areas.

There are already more than 48,000 people sheltering in schools, colleges and sports gyms. While the state government seeks to transfer displaced residents to four "provisional cities" located in Canoas, Porto Alegre, Sao Leopoldo and Guaiba. Likewise, 5,500 houses are being built in other places at a cost of 140,000 reais ($27,090), according to the local government.

Inclement weather has already caused mass exoduses from cities. For example, New Orleans, in the United States, saw its population fall after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, reaching figures of the 21st century.

Images in association with Simples Aventura.

SHOTLIST
1. Various destruction in Porto Alegre