In the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, PWC racers Tiago and Ismael Geitens, along with many other residents-turned-rescuers – many on PWCs – are even now desperately attempting to retrieve survivors from rooftops and rivers as this southernmost state in Brazil reels under the torrential rains and flooding of the past days.
According to reports from local authorities, as told to me by social media sources and confirmed by national media outlets, massive floods in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state killed at least 75 people and at least 100 more still missing. The rains and resulting floods, landslides, washed out roads and collapsed bridges injured another 155+ people and forced more than 88,000 people from their homes.
Tiago, who posted on Instagram about the rescue efforts, including those being made by jet ski, told The Watercraft Journal, “We are facing the worst ever climate disaster of our state. Rio Grande do Sul are with much water, so much rain! People are sinking, more than 5 meters of water in their houses, we are putting the boats for take them out. Our City Canoas is needing help!”
It is reported that electricity and communications are sporadic, and more than 800,000 people are without a clean water supply, according to the civil defense agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan.
According to a Reuters report, “Flooding from storms in the past few days has affected about two thirds of the nearly 500 towns and cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina, leaving more than 88,000 displaced.”
While we have not been able to communicate with Geitens again, WCJ did find, through research into the official Rio Grande do Sul social media accounts and information from the Rio Grande do Sul Governor’s Office and social media accounts, there is a confirmed avenue for donations, as shown in the below graphic, with US Donations being directed to Standard Chartered Bank in New York, Account Number 3544032986001, Swift SCBLUS33. Instructions say to include the following information with the donation to make sure it is directed to the Rio Grande do Sul disaster relief funds:
IBAN Code: BR5392702067001000645423206C1
Name: Associacao dos Bancos no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
CNPJ: 92.958.800/0001-38
According to a post by the Governor’s office, “The resources will be fully donated to humanitarian aid to flood victims and to reconstruction of urban infrastructure. The SOS Rio Grande do Sul account is an official and secure donation channel.”
The Watercraft Journal will continue to monitor conditions in Canoas and Rio Grande do Sul, and provide updates as they become available, including efforts by FuelTech, whose founder and owner, Anderson Dick, is from Rio Grande do Sul.
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