A mayor in southern Brazil asked residents to ration water Tuesday in a state capital where some 80% of the population is without running water, a week after massive flooding that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 missing.
Efforts were continuing to rescue people stranded by the f , as more rains were forecast for the region into next week. The capital, Porto Alegre, has been virtually cut off, with the airport and bus station closed and main roads blocked due to the floodwaters.
Five of the city害羞草研究所檚 six water treatment facilities aren害羞草研究所檛 working, and Porto Alegre Mayor Sebasti茫o Melo ordered that water be used exclusively for 害羞草研究所渆ssential consumption.害羞草研究所� Local shops have also been short on water supplies.
害羞草研究所淲e are living an unprecedented natural disaster and everyone needs to help,害羞草研究所� Melo told journalists. 害羞草研究所淭he shortage is real and it will take some time until it goes back to normal.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 am getting water trucks to soccer fields and people will have to go there to get their water in bottles. I cannot get them to go home to home,害羞草研究所� the mayor added.
The most urgent need is drinking water, but food and personal hygiene products are also in short supply. Other Brazilian states are mobilizing trucks with donations bound for Rio Grande do Sul.
Residents in Rio Grande do Sul who are able to flee are doing so, over fears of shortage and the spread of disease. However, it害羞草研究所檚 difficult for many to leave Porto Alegre with main access roads blocked by floodwaters. The city害羞草研究所檚 airport and main bus terminal are filled with water and closed for the foreseeable future.
The downpour has stopped for now, but a looming cold front will bring more severe rain starting Tuesday night, mainly in the southern part of the state, according to the National Meteorological Institute. Rainfall is could exceed 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) by early Wednesday.
Late Monday, Rio Grande do Sul害羞草研究所檚 Gov. Eduardo Leite issued an alert for several cities close to the massive Patos Lagoon. The floodwaters in Porto Alegre and other cities pass through the lagoon to the sea.
害羞草研究所淭he water level will rise and it will affect you,害羞草研究所� he said in a video broadcast on his social media channels. 害羞草研究所淧lease, believe the alerts and help us save lives. Let害羞草研究所檚 reduce the damage so we can be together to rebuild.害羞草研究所�
has already forced more than 150,000 people from their homes. An additional 50,000 have taken refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters.
叠谤补锄颈濒害羞草研究所檚 visited Rio Grande do Sul for a second time on Sunday, accompanied by Defense Minister Jos茅 M煤cio, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Environment Minister Marina Silva, among others.
During Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said he was praying for the state害羞草研究所檚 population.
Public health experts say there is growing risk of disease as much of the region remains underwater, warning that cases of dengue fever and leptospirosis in particular could rise sharply within days
Security is another concern. Rio Grande do Sul害羞草研究所檚 public security secretariat said in a statement that police will beef up operations to prevent looting and theft. Several volunteers working on rescue operations have been robbed as they tried to help in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region.
Also on Monday, three top-tier Rio Grande do Sul state soccer clubs whose stadiums are flooded their national league matches for the next 20 days because of the flooding. 叠谤补锄颈濒害羞草研究所檚 soccer confederation said it would consider the request.
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