This resident of Sarandi, a working-class district in the north of Porto Alegre, a metropolis of 1.4 million inhabitants, has lost everything – except “God and (her) family”.
On Monday, firefighters convinced her to evacuate the area that had been flooded for several days. This 74-year-old woman left her home by boarding a boat with difficulty, supported at arm’s length by her son-in-law, Elisandro Silva.
His family was brought to a flooded intersection on Assis Brasil Avenue, transformed into a makeshift port in the middle of streets transformed into rivers by the torrential rains which caused the worst climatic disaster in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Inflatable motor boats, jet skis, and sometimes simple small rowing boats are constantly going back and forth to pick up residents who agree to be evacuated.
But some prefer to stay in their homes flooded with brackish water.because they are afraid of burglaries”told AFP Dionis Bellettini, a police officer who came from the neighboring state of Santa Catarina to help the rescuers as a volunteer.
Others “refuse to be taken to accommodation centers”which already hosts more than 20,000 disaster victims from Rio Grande do Sul.
“We can’t force them to leave”explains the police officer, dressed in civilian clothes, life jacket around his neck.
“A thought for the poorest”
Water began to invade Lorena Martins’ house on Saturday, but she preferred to stay at home at first.
But on Monday, she accepted help from rescuers. “I was afraid of the water, but they were very kind,” confides the septuagenarian, whose drawn features betray distress and fatigue.
“Now my little house is abandoned”deplores this very religious woman, who also “a thought for the poorest”.
According to the latest report from Civil Defense, nearly 130,000 people had to leave their homes in Rio Grande do Sul, a state bordering Uruguay and Argentina.
The rains caused the worst flood in the history of the Guaiba River, which flows through Porto Alegre.
“The people take care of the people”
“I saw terrible scenes”says Filipe Bezbatti, 27, an events entrepreneur who is trying to repair the engine of a boat used by volunteers to rescue disaster victims.
Dressed in a neoprene suit, he believes that the authorities should set a course for rescue operations.
“It’s the people who take care of the people”adds Jefferson Martines, also an entrepreneur, aged 28.
The two young men met at the crossroads transformed into a river port and are now part of the same group of volunteers.
Not far from there, Paula Martinez, a 28-year-old nurse, feeds three dogs who do not dare cross a flooded street where the water level has reached around 40 centimeters. She ends up bringing them to dry land with Filipe Bezbatti by hoisting them onto a boat with a leash.
