Brazilian news agency Agencia Brasil reported yesterday that 20,000 people in the state of Rondônia are currently affected by flooding there. The floods first struck at the beginning of March 2014. The worst affected areas are Porto Velho, Guajará-Mirim and Nova Mamoré in Rondônia. Parts of the state of Acre have also been affected.
Heavy rainfall over the last few days has worsened the situation. Of particular concern are the levels of the Madeira River. On Tuesday 4 March river levels stood at 18.75 metres. Yesterday (Monday 24 march 2014) levels stood at a record high of 19.52 metres. River levels are only expected to fall in around 5 days’ time according to Brazil’s Civil Defence (Defesa Civil).
Communities all along the river have been hit, especially areas around Porto Velho, that state capital, where 3,262 families have been displaced by the flooding.
The region has also been struggling with transport disruption after the BR-364 federal highway that connects Rondônia with the Atlantic coast was blocked by flood water and debris. Levels of flood water on some parts of the highway are said to stand at 1.4 metres.
Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes) will attempt to set up alternative suppy routes, possibly including river ferries over the coming days, in efforts to bring essential supplies such as food, medicine and fuel to the affected communities.
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Meanwhile the severe flood situation in Bolivia, just over the border from Rondônia, continues. Areas of the country, especially Beni, have been struggling with flooding since the beginning of the year. Earlier this month it was suspected that two newly built dams on the Madeira River in Brazil were responsible for the floods in Bolivia. The results of a report and investigation into the situation are yet to be announced.
Source: Agencia Brasil
