Billionaire Elon Musk stated on Thursday (native time) that Starlink, his satellite tv for pc web firm, will donate 1,000 terminals to emergency companies within the flood-affected southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The area is battling the worst flooding in 80 years as a result of torrential rains.
“Given the horrible flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, @Starlink will donate 1,000 terminals to emergency companies and can make the usage of all terminals within the area freed from cost till the area has recovered. I hope the most effective for the individuals of Brazil,” Musk tweeted.
Up to now, 107 individuals have died in extreme flooding in southern Brazil as emergency companies race in opposition to time to avoid wasting individuals trapped in houses and different locations as a result of calamity, Reuters reported.
Rescuers rescued a horse that was caught on a roof for 2 days in a severely flooded metropolis in Rio Grande do Sul. Up to now, 136 individuals are nonetheless lacking and authorities rescued 1.65 lakh extra trapped of their flooded houses. boats and helicopters as roads became rivers as a result of days of heavy rain.
No respite is predicted within the coming days because the meteorological division has predicted extra rainfall. This has raised fears of a brand new rise in water ranges within the flooded state capital of Porto Alegre and close by cities, based on a Reuters report.
The floods have destroyed infrastructure and bridges, blocking entry to Porto Alegre, the place supermarkets have been reported to have been looted in a single day.
In accordance with preliminary estimates, Governor Eduardo Leite stated, flood harm is estimated at no less than 19 billion reais ($3.68 billion).
“The impact of the floods and the magnitude of the tragedy are devastating,” he stated on social media.
In Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, the federal authorities estimated the fiscal impression of the floods at 7.7 billion reais ($1.49 billion), primarily as a result of injection of funds right into a help program for small companies affected by the floods. .
“This doesn’t finish right here,” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated at an occasion the place he introduced measures to assist the devastated state of Rio Grande do Sul. Lula stated the complete extent of the state’s wants would solely be identified when the water will go down.
(with contributions from Reuters)