Photos Show 'Apocalyptic' Floods Submerging South Brazil

Weeks of incessant, drenching rains have caused one of the worst flooding events in decades for Brazil. In the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, some 80% of the region is underwater, at least 108 people have died and more than 100 are still missing as of Thursday. And more rain is in the forecast.

The impact on local communities has been severe. Daniel Jaramillo, who lives in Canoas, near Porto Alegre where the Guaíba River flooded, described the situation: "Some have lost everything. It's devastating to see our city, our homes, underwater. It's like an apocalypse," he told Newsweek.

Authorities in the state, home to 11 million people, have been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster, which started last week after unusually heavy and prolonged rains associated with El Niño. Officials anticipate that the number of victims will increase once the waters subside.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the nation, acknowledging the scale of the disaster and promising federal aid. "We'll have to prepare ourselves because we'll see the extent of the disaster when the water recedes and the rivers return to normal," he said.

The city of Porto Alegre, with 1.3 million residents, has been almost totally cut off by the floods. An estimated 80% of its population does not have access to running water after five of the city's six water treatment plants stopped working. The city authorities have called for anyone who owns "any kind of boat" to put it at the disposal of emergency teams as thousands of residents still need to be rescued from neighborhoods cut off by the water.

Amid the disaster, one particularly rescue story has captured the attention of the nation: the rescue of Caramelo, a horse that was found stranded on a rooftop. The image of the animal, looking bewildered surrounded by the encroaching floodwaters, became a poignant symbol of the disaster's impact as it spread across social media this week.

A day after Caramelo was first spotted, rescuers were able to reach him. The 770-pound horse was sedated by veterinarians, and placed in a São Paulo Fire Department boat and delivered to a hospital. He's said to be dehydrated, but recovering. The entire rescue was broadcast on live television across Brazil.

Experts link the severity of these floods to climate change and urbanization, exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern. Claudio Angelo, a journalist with 20 years of experience covering international climate negotiations and climate science, told Newsweek: "it's clear that a significant portion of the Brazilian population acknowledges the correlation between recent catastrophic events and climate change."

Brazil's wildly diverse geographical landscape also contributes to its susceptibility to certain natural disasters. In the south, states are prone to flooding, while the eastern semi-arid areas experience frequent droughts.

But, according to Angelo, both the frequency and severity of extreme or rare weather events are increasing. "This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impacts of these evolving climatic challenges," he said.