Paraguayan firefighters cooperate to assist flood victims in Brazil

Photo Itaipu Binacional

Asunción, IP Agency.- A team of Paraguayans made up of firefighters and security agents from Itaipu has been, since last Saturday, in the State of Río Grande do Sul (Brazil) cooperating with the tasks of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the major floods that are currently being recorded. in the region.

Last Friday, May 3, the Civil Defense of the neighboring country asked the Binational for its collaboration to reinforce the rescue efforts for those affected. Efforts began immediately and a contingent headed to the flooded area.

“The first day of the trip we reached the city of Passo Fundo, already in Río Grande, and the second to Canoas, near Porto Alegre. There we have already begun the tasks of humanitarian and social aid. As of this Monday, May 6, we are already coordinating the day’s work with the military firefighters,” said firefighter Cristhian Marín, who together with his Paraguayan colleague Ángel Alvarenga make up the team.

For several days now, Río Grande del Sur has been suffering from unprecedented storms, which have already caused flooding in 336 municipalities of the 497 that make up the state, reaching levels that have not been seen since the 1940s.

According to data, some 3,000 Paraguayans reside in the region and several were affected by the floods, according to the Itaipu Binacional press report.

The heavy rains began on April 26 and have already caused the death of more than 80 people and 111 missing. Of the 844,673 affected residents in the state, more than 115,000 are homeless; and 18,487 in shelters. Itaipu’s cooperation is without a deadline.