Weather News
Published Updated

10 killed in Brazil floods as governor warns of 'biggest climate disaster' to come

Civil Defense Department officials warned the Blang Dam is at risk of breaking on the Caí River. Residents in the flood zone are being told to evacuate.

By Emilee Speck Source FOX Weather

Torrential rains send deluge of floodwater into southern Brazil towns

Video shows major flooding on May 1 in the Brazilian town of Putinga. Parts of the state of Rio Grande do Sul received nearly 6 inches of rain in 24 hours with more rain forecast, causing deadly flooding across southern Brazil. (Video: Putinga City Hall)

ENCANTADO, Brazil – Torrential rains of nearly a half-foot in 24 hours across southern Brazil led to flooding that has killed at least 10 people.

Part of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul was hit by resistant rains beginning Monday, and Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) is forecasting more rain through Thursday.

Nearly 6 inches of rain fell between Monday and Tuesday in hard-hit areas, according to Inmet. On Wednesday, the city of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul received 8 inches. 

Rainfall estimates across southern Brazil between April 23 and May 1. (FOX Weather)

An additional 7 inches is possible through Thursday as a broad area of low-pressure advances toward the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the region could see between 6 and 12 inches over the next five days.

Rain forecast between Thursday and Saturday in southern Brazil. (FOX Weather)

On Thursday, Rio Grande do Sul Civil Defense Department officials warned the Blang Dam is at risk of breaking on the Caí River. Officials said residents in the flood zone of the Blang Dam should move to higher ground and find a safe place to shelter, including the cities of São Francisco de Paula, Canela, Gramado, N. Petrópolis, Vale Real and Feliz.

Multiple rivers are at flood stage, and residents are being told to move away from waterways. Flooding is forecast to continue through the end of the week.

Image 1 of 8

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 1, 2024. At least 10 people have died in floods caused by torrential rains in Brazil's south, authorities said on May 1, as rescuers searched for nearly two dozen individuals reported missing. (Photo by Gustavo Ghisleni / AFP) (Photo by GUSTAVO GHISLENI/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 2 of 8

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 1, 2024. At least 10 people have died in floods caused by torrential rains in Brazil's south, authorities said on May 1, as rescuers searched for nearly two dozen individuals reported missing. (Photo by Gustavo Ghisleni / AFP) (Photo by GUSTAVO GHISLENI/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 3 of 8

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 1, 2024. At least 10 people have died in floods caused by torrential rains in Brazil's south, authorities said on May 1, as rescuers searched for nearly two dozen individuals reported missing. (Photo by Gustavo Ghisleni / AFP) (Photo by GUSTAVO GHISLENI/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 4 of 8

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 1, 2024. At least 10 people have died in floods caused by torrential rains in Brazil's south, authorities said on May 1, as rescuers searched for nearly two dozen individuals reported missing. (Photo by Gustavo Ghisleni / AFP) (Photo by GUSTAVO GHISLENI/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 5 of 8

Volunteer Anilto Alvares da Silva, know as Nico, prepares to search for residents trapped inside their houses at the Quilombo neighborhood in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 2, 2024. The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, rose to 13, amid the "worst disaster" in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday. (Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) (Photo by ANSELMO CUNHA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 6 of 8

Firefighters rescue a man and his dog from a flooded area at the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 2, 2024. The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, rose to 13, amid the "worst disaster" in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday. (Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) (Photo by ANSELMO CUNHA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 7 of 8

A flooded house is seen in the surroundings of the ERS-122 highway, flooded by heavy rains, at the Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 2, 2024. The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, rose to 13, amid the "worst disaster" in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday. (Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) (Photo by ANSELMO CUNHA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Image 8 of 8

Volunteers use a fishing boat to rescue residents trapped inside their houses at the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 2, 2024. The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, rose to 13, amid the "worst disaster" in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday. (Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) (Photo by ANSELMO CUNHA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

This system will bring potentially severe thunderstorms, including strong winds up to 50 mph and rain exceeding 8 inches between Rio Grande do Sul and south of Santa Catarina. 

The imagery below from NOAA's GOES East satellite Advanced Baseline Imager and lightning mapper instruments shows the onslaught of rain and storms over southern Brazil early Thursday.

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Rio Grande do Sul Gov. Eduardo Leite said the number of deaths is expected to rise and encouraged residents to leave and seek safer places because first responders have had difficulty reaching people needing rescue. 

Leite suspended classes across the state Thursday and declared a state of calamity due to the flooding. 

"The current event will be the biggest climate disaster our state has ever faced. Unfortunately, it will be bigger than last year," Leite said on X. "We are living in a very critical moment in the state. I deeply regret the 10 deaths recorded so far."

Firefighters rescue a man and his dog from a flooded area at the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil on May 2, 2024. The death toll from a severe storm in Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, rose to 13, amid the "worst disaster" in the history of the state where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled on Thursday. (Photo by Anselmo Cunha / AFP) (Photo by ANSELMO CUNHA/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in the city of Santa Maria on Thursday to see the flooding response. 

In November, a week of severe thunderstorms and torrential rain caused a similar flooding event in southern Brazil, killing eight people and displacing thousands of people. 

Some information in this story was obtained using Google Translate.