Americas

In photos: At least 83 dead as historic flooding hits southern Brazil

Record-breaking floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 83 people over the past week, and another 111 were reported missing, local authorities said Monday.

Renan Mattos/Reuters

In the state capital, Porto Alegre, water levels of the Guaíba River peaked at 17.5 feet (5.33 meters) on Sunday — far exceeding the previous record of 15.6 feet (4.76 meters) observed in 1941, according to the prefectural government.

Renan Mattos/Reuters

At least 291 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 129,000 people from their homes. Approximately 20,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters.

Renan Mattos/Reuters

May 6 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

An aerial view of the flooded Beira-Rio Stadium.

May 6 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A group of volunteers on a flooded street.

Giulian Serafim/AFP/Getty Images

Giulian Serafim/AFP/Getty Images

May 6 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A car is filled with water on a flooded street in the Menino Deus neighborhood.

May 6 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A military truck transports people out of the flooded area.

Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

May 6 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Volunteers help residents evacuate from their homes in the Farrapos neighborhood.

May 5 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

An area after the flooding of Guaíba River.

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

People are rescued after flooding.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

People are rescued by residents.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Rescue workers evacuate a flood victim.

Renan Mattos/Reuters

Renan Mattos/Reuters

May 5 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A flooded street.

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

People wade through floodwaters.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

People walk through floodwaters.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Roca Sales, Brazil

Houses destroyed by floods.

Gustavo Ghisleni/AFP/Getty Images

Gustavo Ghisleni/AFP/Getty Images

May 5 | Jacarezinho, Brazil

People walk inside a shop destroyed by flash floods.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 5 | Encantado, Brazil

An injured dog lies in the mud after heavy rains and floods.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 5 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Volunteers provide food, medical attention and clothing to people rescued from flooded houses at a gas station used as a meeting point.

Carlos Fabal/AFP/Getty Images

Carlos Fabal/AFP/Getty Images

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

Julio Manichesque walks on the roof of his house after floods.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Canoas, Brazil

A flooded street.

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

Amanda Perobelli/Reuters

May 5 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A flooded area after the flooding of Lake Guaiba.

May 4 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A woman is evacuated from a flooded area.

Carlos Fabal/AFP/Getty Images

Carlos Fabal/AFP/Getty Images

May 4 | Canoas, Brazil

Rescue teams and volunteers help flood victims.

Alisson Moura/AFP/Getty Images

Alisson Moura/AFP/Getty Images

May 4 | Canoas, Brazil

A man is rescued by military firefighters.

Renan Mattos/Reuters

Renan Mattos/Reuters

May 4 | Roca Sales, Brazil

A man is rescued after being injured during the floods.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 3 | Eldorado do Sul, Brazil

Floodwaters overtake the streets.

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

A man wades through a flooded section of the city.

Carlos Macedo/AP

Carlos Macedo/AP

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Residents of coastal islands near the shore of Lake Guaíba carry their belongings after being rescued.

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

May 2 | Encantado, Brazil

A woman carries two rescued cats.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

People and a dog are rescued from the islands of Lake Guaíba.

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

May 1 | Encantado, Brazil

Houses next to the Taquari River are submerged by floodwaters.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 1 | Sinimbu, Brazil

A house partially destroyed by heavy rains.

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

May 3 | Eldorado do Sul, Brazil

A resident climbs a rescue truck.

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

Anselmo Cunha/AFP/Getty Images

May 3 | Encantado, Brazil

A woman walks through mud as she tries to get to her house.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 2 | Lajeado, Brazil

Two men are rescued by military firefighters.

Jeff Botega/Agencia RBS/Reuters

Jeff Botega/Agencia RBS/Reuters

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

People throw bags across a puddle as they evacuate flooded areas.

Carlos Macedo/AP

Carlos Macedo/AP

May 3 | Encantado, Brazil

Vehicles covered in mud.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Horses wade through a flooded beach along the Jacui River.

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

People and their pets are rescued from the flooding.

Renan Mattos/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Renan Mattos/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

May 3 | Porto Alegre, Brazil

Residents are rescued by the Brazilian army.

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

May 3 | Encantado, Brazil

Displaced people take shelter in a public facility.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

May 3 | Encantado, Brazil

A displaced person rests at a shelter.

Diego Vara/Reuters

Diego Vara/Reuters

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Credits

Photo editing and production by Jintak Han and Troy Witcher