Brazilian Meteorological researchers Metsul have issued a black rain warning for the southern part of the region's largest country, which could also be affecting northern Uruguay Thursday -Cerro Largo, Rivera, and parts of Rocha- given a cold front clashing with a smoke plume from the large number of fires in the region, it was explained.
Brazilian authorities halted all shipments of poultry meat to China, Europe, and Argentina on Friday after a case of Newcastle disease was detected in the municipality of Anta Gorda in the State of Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva said Tuesday that at least 96% of the fires in the Pantanal, Pantanal, a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland area and the world's largest flooded grasslands, had been put out or were under control, Agencia Brasil reported. She made the announcement alongside fellow Ministers Simone Tebet (Budget and Planning) and Waldez Góes (Integration and Regional Development) in Corumbá, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.
According to an updated report on the floods in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul released Tuesday, 177 people had perished while 37 others were still unaccounted for. Agencia Brasil also said some 10,000 people were still in shelters as Civil Defense authorities issued a new heavy rain alert after at least 19 municipalities were damaged by new floods this past weekend.
The Brazilian administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Tuesday canceled a tender whereby some 263,000 tons of rice were to be purchased abroad to make up for the crops lost in the flooded State of Rio Grande do Sul. The decision was made after signs of irregularities were detected in the bidding companies. Rio Grande do Sul accounts for 70% of Brazil's rice production.
Brazilian farmers and government have clashed over the recent authorization to import rice, given the extraordinary floods and consequences suffered by the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the main producer the cereal. As a result of the situation the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA) has filed a lawsuit against the federal government’s decision to authorize rice imports.
Health authorities in the Brazilian flood-hit State of Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul confirmed Monday that an eighth patient had died of leptospirosis, Agencia Brasil reported. The victim was a 31-year-old man from São Leopoldo who had prolonged exposure to contaminated water.
The first four deaths from the waterborne bacterial disease, leptospirosis, have been reported in the southern Brazil state of Rio Grande do Sul, where floodwaters following days of unprecedented rainfall have started to recede, but health authorities are warning of additional fatalities.
Uruguayan authorities have declared a 120-day agricultural emergency to deal with the consequences of severe floods hitting parts of the country. The weather phenomenon is a geographical continuation of the one that hit the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul killing some 175 people with several dozens still unaccounted for.
After it was confirmed that there is no date for the reopening of the Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre, still partially under water due to the unprecedented heavy rains that have hit the State of Rio Grande do Sul since April 29, local airlines have announced the start of services to the nearby Canoas Air Force Base, Agencia Brasil reported.