Rising waters
Mapping the impact of Brazil's historic flooding
Devastating flooding in southern Brazil that started April 27 th has quickly become the worst flooding in the region in over 80 years.
Several factors have contributed to the severity of these floods, including intense rainfall and geographical vulnerability.
Most notably, the region's impact from the El Niño climate phenomenon has led to increased rainfall in the Rio Grande Do Sul in the city of Porto Alegre.
Measuring the floods
Some areas in the region received over 12 inches (30 cm) of rain within a week. The relentless rainfall caused the rivers to top their banks, spilling into the floodplain and inundating over 121 mi 2 (315 km 2 ) on April 27 th .
Highlighting impacts
Satellite imagery captured April 18th (left) and May 8th (right) show the extent of the floodwaters.
This imagery shows the impacts of the flooding, which has engulfed much of the airport and local sports stadium. The side-by-side comparison highlights the drastic changes over just a few weeks.
Several densely populated neighborhoods, such as Farrapos and Rio Branco, are submerged, having displaced over a half million people.
In some areas, floodwaters have reached a depth of over 16 ft (5 m), inundating entire neighborhoods. This has also impacted rescue efforts, making it more difficult for aid to reach these affected communities.
In response, the Brazilian government and various organizations are actively working to provide relief and assistance helping with evacuation efforts, and distributing basic necessities such as food and medical supplies.
The recent flooding in Rio Grande Do Sul sounds an alarm: This is likely not a one-time event but rather a recurring phenomenon. The intensity and frequency of events like these will undoubtedly increase, potentially resulting in higher levels of climate migration — the movement of people due to climate change. This underscores the need for increased disaster planning and climate adaptation.
Resources
Learn more and support the relief efforts of the Red Cross and the UN refugee agency.