RS continues on the path of extreme weather events, warns director

Rafael Sacchi, director of FIERGS, mentioned that the state has been suffering consecutive and particularly more severe impacts since 2023

Rio Grande do Sul continues to be severely affected by climate events since 2023, warned Rafael Sacchi, director of FIERGS (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul) and president of Sicepot-RS (Union of the Road Construction, Paving and Earthworks Industry in General in the State of Rio Grande do Sul). The speech took place during his presentation at the Sul Export Forum, which ended this Tuesday (29), in Porto Alegre.

“In September of the year before last (2023) we had a major flood, then in November, strong winds and, in January 2024, heavy rains. In May and June of last year, there was the heaviest rainfall in Brazil's history, which hit the state here,” recalled the director.

Of the 497 municipalities in the state, 478 were hit by the rains, resulting in 95% of the state's territory being affected. Furthermore, 418 of these cities declared a state of emergency or calamity, totaling 95 decrees of calamity and 323 of emergency.

Road dependence

Sacchi also addressed the state's dependence on road infrastructure. “Today, Rio Grande do Sul has around 5,500 kilometers of federal road network and just over 10,300 kilometers under the responsibility of the Autonomous Department of Highways (DAER), including state and municipal highways, paved or not.”

The rail network, which has approximately 3,800 kilometers in the state, uses only 917 kilometers – which are currently in operation. He noted that, before the floods, 1,600 kilometers of rail were in operation. Today, that number has been reduced due to the damage caused by recent weather events.