João Engelmann opens a washing machine full of muddy water after floods at the Integracao Gaucha settlement at his daughter’s house. Following three days of rain, Engelmann and his wife fled their home. Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
Record-breaking floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, have caused environmental devastation, the displacement of over 600,000 residents, and the death of 183 people. The government declared it the state’s largest climate disaster ever, with 2.39 million residents affected and major human, non-human, and economic losses. According to a team of international scientists, climate change, intensified by El Niño, made the flooding twice as likely. Experts warn that such extremely rare weather events, once expected to occur every 100 to 250 years, will become more frequent due to the burning of fossil fuels and other forms of environmental degradation. The floods have devastated local economies and communities. While some residents are leaving to start anew, others are choosing to stay and rebuild their lives.
Are you a photographer and/or passionate about press freedom? Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our annual contest and to hear about exhibitions near you.
