Pope Francis dedicated his prayer this Sunday (5) to the population of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, affected by the serious floods of recent days. “May the Lord welcome the deceased and give comfort to their families and to all those who had to leave their homes,” said the pontiff.
The prayer was said from the window of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, where the pope expressed solidarity with the victims. “I assure you of my prayers for the population of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil.”
Until this Sunday morning (5), the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul confirmed that the rains and river overflows in the south of the country had already affected 332 cities in Rio Grande do Sul, causing at least 66 deaths and 155 injuries. In total, 101 people remain missing.
Another six deaths recorded in areas affected by the floods could be added to the list of fatalities, but authorities are still investigating whether the cause of these deaths is related to the rain.
According to information from Civil Defense, more than 80,000 people had to leave their homes in Rio Grande do Sul, of which 15,192 remain in public shelters, according to the bulletin released this Sunday morning.