Photo: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

The state of Texas in the United States faces one of the worst natural tragedies of recent years. The death toll up to 59 after devastating floods reach the central region of the state, especially Kerr County last Friday (4), according to local authorities. Among the victims are 21 children. Searches for missing are still in the midst of the forecast of more rainfall.

The disaster was caused by a sudden storm that caused the outfall of the Guadalupe River, reaching hundreds of people and leaving whole communities isolated. One of the focus of the rescue teams is Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp where about 750 girls were staying. At least 27 of them are still missing. The site access road was destroyed by the water force, making it difficult for help.

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President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sympathized with the victims. In a message published on social networks, the president said he follows “sadly the news about the floods that are taking place in the United States. Tragedies like this, which has already caused more than fifty deaths, and has left more than twenty missing children, moving everyone, anywhere in the world.”

“May the authorities of Kerr County, Texas State and the US government succeed in rescuing and assisting those affected by this disaster. And to all the people who lost their loved ones, I want to express my solidarity, and the solidarity of all the Brazilian people. That God helps them in this difficult time,” he concluded.

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Pope Leo XIV also provided condolences during his weekly prayer at the Vatican. American of origin, the pontiff especially regretted girls’ deaths in camp. “I would like to express my sincere condolences to all families who lost someone who loved, especially their daughters, who were in a summer camp. We prayed for them.”

The Brazilian government, through Itamaraty, also issued an official note expressing regret and reinforcing the urgency of international measures in the face of the climate crisis. “Climate change intensifies extreme events and increases the frequency of similar disasters, which makes the need for joint measures by the international community even more urgent,” the note said.

Extreme climate event and global funding appeal

During the BRICS summit, this Sunday (6), the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, classified the tragedy in Texas as an “extreme climate event” and compared the situation with the historical flood that devastated Rio Grande do Sul in 2024. The minister warned of the urgency of mobilizing technological, human and financial resources to face the impacts of climate change.

“We are seeing what happened in the United States, an extreme climate event that has already reaped dozens of lives of innocent people. This happened here in Rio Grande do Sul. This happened with the fires, with heat waves. It happens all the time. There are over 500,000 lives that are lost every year due to heat waves.”

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According to Marina, climate financing is a priority of the Brazilian presidency at BRICS, and countries should disclose a joint statement on the subject.

More than 400 rescuers, 120 aquatic vehicles and sniffer dogs operate in rescue operations. Texas governor, Greg Abbott, said “let’s not stop until you find every girl in those huts.”

The tragedy reinforces the alerts of scientists and political leaders on the real impacts of the climate crisis and the urgency of concrete actions.

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with agencies

Source: vermelho.org.br



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