Concern about the historic rains that caused damage in 364 of the 497 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul causes many people to leave their homes for safety. However, reports of looting and an increase in robberies and other crimes in flooded areas frighten the population already shaken by the tragedy.
Residents of the capital Porto Alegre claim that commercial establishments in the city such as markets, stores and pharmacies have been looted in recent days.
Resident of the historic center Emely Jensen, who has an apartment in a non-flooded area, says she left the neighborhood after suffering an attempted robbery on Sunday (5).
She says she already intended to leave the place because she was incommunicado, with no internet or telephone signal, and having difficulty talking to her family, who faced 1.9 meters of water at home in the city of São Sebastião do Caí.
“The icing on the cake was an attempted robbery near my house, which has never happened to me before, not even at night,” he says. “I started to get scared of staying in the area.”
According to Emely, many people are desperate. “The guy who tried to rob us on a motorcycle was very nervous, if he hesitated he’d never even robbed us before.”
She says she doesn’t believe her apartment could be invaded, but she made the decision to leave the place with her wife in a moment of sensitivity, coupled with a fire that occurred that night on her street.
“A lot of things going on, a lot of shouting,” he says. “We decided to leave there and as soon as there is safe passage we will go to São Sebastião do Caí to support our family.” In the city there are reports of looting from flooded pharmacies, for example.
In contrast to the feeling of fear, Emely says that the neighborhood, close to the rescue point set up on the edge of Guaíba, has an “incredible” solidarity movement, with many people volunteering to help or offering donations. “There is also a desperation to help,” she notes.
A resident of Ilha da Pintada, in the Arquipélago neighborhood, the most affected region of Porto Alegre, Paula Reis de Lima says that many people stayed there and resisted leaving for fear of looting.
“My father didn’t want to leave the house on Thursday [2] when there was time and was taken care of by relatives. In the early hours of Thursday to Friday they had to rescue him and he was in water up to his waist.”
According to her, when she arrived at a shelter, her father was already suffering from hypothermia and hypoglycemia. “My father’s biggest fear is that someone would break into his house to steal. And then he almost lost his life because of that fear.”
Paula says that the attacks usually occur at night. “They don’t start the engine, they go rowing, they even take risks, they enter houses and carry out looting. Some people put things in the ceiling, in the trap door, and there are people who take advantage of this situation.”
According to her, it is common reports from residents of the neighborhood who have had their property stolen and houses broken into by people who came from other regions, especially in the floods that affected the place in September and November. But she considers that the level well above the current flood average could make it difficult for criminals to act.
DEATH IN ARROIO DO MEIO
In Arroio do Meio, in the Taquari valley, a group of police officers from Passo Fundo arrived in the city to provide support to the security forces in a wave of crime amid the damage caused by the rains.
On Thursday (2), a man died after being hit by a skewer used in barbecue grills. On Friday (3), a person was shot and taken to the hospital in Lajeado. There is still no further information about the causes of the crimes, which are currently being investigated by the Civil Police.
According to Mayor Danilo Bruxel (PP), the municipal administration has already notified the Tactical Force of the Military Brigade that is in the municipality about the incidents. On Saturday (4), a group of police officers from Passo Fundo, in the north of Rio Grande do Sul, arrived in Arroio do Meio to increase security operations.
The city still depends on water trucks for supply, and many parts of the city are still without electricity.
All connections between Arroio do Meio and Lajeado were destroyed by water. In addition to the bridge on RS-130, half of the historic iron bridge also collapsed.
Access from Arroio do Meio to Lajeado, the largest city in the region, is being done in two boats on the Forqueta River, one for Civil Defense and the other for volunteers. River transport is the only alternative after water destroyed the RS-130 bridge and the iron bridge.
This Monday (6), more boats should be made available.
Arroio do Meio was still recovering from previous disasters. On April 19, the city had opened 28 temporary housing units for families affected by the September 2023 floods, which devastated the region. There is no information about damage to these units.
Rio Grande do Sul has been experiencing reports of robberies and looting in different parts of the state in recent days. In Porto Alegre, the Arena do Grêmio store had products stolen. In Canoas, there are reports of robberies on boats that take displaced people to safer areas.
