The Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul is struggling with the effects of flooding. On Thursday, the authorities announced that 107 people lost their lives as a result of the disaster, and over 130 are missing. We managed to save a horse that was stuck on the roof of a flooded house for two days.
Unprecedented floods are plaguing the Brazilian state of Rio Grande Do Sul. On Thursday, the authorities announced that 107 people lost their lives as a result of the disaster, and 136 are still missing. Streets in cities turned into rivers.
Floods have destroyed infrastructure and bridges, blocking access to Porto Alegre, the state capital, where supermarket shelves are empty and looting has been reported overnight.
More than 165,000 people have been evacuated, and further rainfall is expected in the forecast for the next few days.
Rescue operation
The element also poses a threat to animals. Rescuers on Thursday rescued a horse that had been trapped for two days on the roof of a house on the outskirts of Canoas, a city north of Porto Alegre. The animal was spotted on Wednesday from a helicopter by one of the television stations.
Canoas Mayor Jorge da Silva called on authorities to save the animal from falling from the roof.
Volunteer rescuers who gathered to try to help the horse said it had been walking through flooded areas for four days. With the help of military veterinarians, rescuers secured the horse and loaded the horse into an inflatable boat to take it to safety.
A horse on the roof of a house seen on Wednesday, May 8Reuters
Main photo source: Reuters