The riverside community that lives on the banks of the São Francisco River in Sergipe and Alagoas is on alert. This is because the volume of water in the floodgates of hydroelectric plants in the region will gradually increase its flow until next week, when it should reach 4,000 cubic meters per second (m³/s) – about eight times the measure considered normal.
The alert was issued by the governments of both states, due to above-average rainfall in recent weeks in the Southeast Region, which increased the levels of the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants of Três Marias and Sobradinho, in the state of Minas Gerais. This caused the flood in the basin of the São Francisco River. Sobradinho is close to reaching the maximum accumulation capacity for the period.
The population of more than 20 municipalities in Sergipe and Alagoas must vacate the houses located in riverside areas of the main channel of the river. Animal husbandry must also be moved to safe locations.
State Civil Defense teams participate in the removal of families and continue to inspect the course of the São Francisco River, providing support to City Halls.
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According to Sergipe’s Civil Defense Superintendent, Luciano Santos Queiroz, the scenario should repeat the same situation already registered last year, when commerce, tourism and bars installed in the riverbeds were the most affected.
“Faced with this situation and the mirror of what happened last year, these bars were informed again about this situation and they now understand and understand that their trade will be affected and they will preventively remove the material so that there is no damage.”
This Wednesday (11), the National Civil Defense had already recognized the emergency situation in 45 municipalities in Bahia, affected by heavy rains since last month.
