The government of Acre and the city of Rio Branco declared an emergency situation as a result of the rains that hit the region. In the capital alone, 32,000 people were affected, according to city hall data. At least two thousand are displaced and 500 in municipal shelters. 
In just over 13 hours, it rained more than half the expected average for the entire month of March. The storm started on Thursday (23). The force of the waters was such that it opened a crater on BR 364, interrupting traffic.
According to the latest bulletin from the Civil Defense of the State, the Acre River reached 16.23 meters this Saturday (25), exceeding the alert quota of 14 meters. A contingency plan was put together and the city began to receive the first donations to help those affected. They are basic baskets, clothes, mattresses and other inputs.
Classes in the state network were suspended and schools are being used as shelters for those affected. In all, 24 shelters were made available.
The forecast is for at least another 100 millimeters of rain this weekend, with a high possibility of flooding, especially in the capital. The region is on orange alert. According to the coordinator of the State Civil Defense, Carlos Batista, there is also concern with the municipalities of Brasileia, Assis Brasil, Xapuri and Epitaciolândia.
*Contributed by Douglas Corrêa.
