May 4, 2024
An explosion at a gas station in Porto Alegre, Brazill, resulted in at least two deaths this Saturday, May 4. The event occurred at a critical moment, while rescue vehicles were refueling to continue aid operations for victims of the floods that hit the city. The explosion not only claimed lives, but also produced a fire that generated a large cloud of smoke visible from a distance, further complicating the situation in the town.
What you should know. The impact of the tragedy is even more palpable, considering that Porto Alegre has been hit by what is considered the “worst climate disaster” in the history of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Since Friday, intense rainfall has caused the death of at least 57 people and the disappearance of another 67, while several roads remain closed and almost 300 towns are affected, many of them isolated from the rest of the country.
- The situation in Porto Alegre has worsened with the rise in the level of the Guaíba River, which has flooded the historic center of the city. The mayor’s office reported that the water level reached 5.04 meters, surpassing the previous record of 4.76 meters recorded in 1941.
- The consequences are devastating: streets submerged and residents desperately trying to evacuate their homes.
- In the midst of this crisis, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, described the situation as dramatic and absolutely unprecedented, in a live broadcast. Mayor Sebastiao Melo warned about the overflowing of the Gravataí River and urged communities to leave at-risk areas. Additionally, the city’s international airport had to suspend operations indefinitely.
