Lula da Silva calls for more resources for flood-hit region as death toll reaches 85

(CNN) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent a legislative order to Congress to accelerate the transfer of resources to Rio Grande do Sul, where heavy rains and floods last week left at least 85 people dead, according to the state civil protection unit. Has died.

The Senate said Monday night it would review in the coming days the decree, which recognizes a state of disaster in Rio Grande do Sul and allows for negotiations, among other measures, including granting provisional credit to the state and suspending monthly debt payments. Gives. Associations and incentives for the productive sector.

Civil Defense said the storm affected more than one million people in 385 municipalities across the state. At least 339 people are injured, more than 150,000 are displaced and 134 are missing.

The federal government said more than 46,000 people had been rescued in a major operation involving about 15,000 troops.

Volunteer Alan Kolar Jasino told CNN on Monday that his team went to the Humaita neighborhood of the capital, Porto Alegre, where they saw looting. He said people were trying to steal canoes and jet skis and arrests were being made.

“Today was worse than yesterday,” he said.

Over the past two days, Kolar Jasino helped rescue 110 people. “I’m emotionally exhausted,” he said, describing seeing a body floating inside a house.

According to Brazilian meteorological agencies, more rain is expected this week in parts of the state and the border area with Uruguay.

The southern part of the state is expected to receive up to 100 mm of rain by Friday afternoon, with most of the rain falling on Wednesday. The northern part will see less rainfall overall, possibly less than 25 mm, but small areas could see up to 150 mm. This will happen mainly between Thursday and Friday.

The record rainfall has been linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon, which, according to the World Meteorological Organization, is responsible for the warming of Pacific waters and helps block cold fronts and concentrate field systems of instability over Rio Grande do Sul. Does.

From CNN’s Mauricio Torres and CNN’s Michael Rios and Julia Vargas Jones