The intense floods in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) are severely impacting fuel supplies, telecommunications services, and electricity. Rescue and maintenance teams are working to face the challenges caused by the calamity. Despite joint efforts between companies and governments to deal with the situation, there is still no concrete forecast for the re-establishment of these essential services.
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Fuel
Among gas stations, the scenario is one of lack of product and rationing in several locations. For João Dal’Aqua, vice-president of Fecombustíveis and president of Sulpetro, which brings together RS companies, there is no forecast of when the situation will return to normal.
Telephony
In the telephone segment, the situation is also chaotic. According to data from the Ministry of Communications, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), and operators, five cities in the state are completely without telecommunications services: Arroio do Meio, Encantado, Estrela, Pouso Novo and Progresso. Sources in the sector say that there is still no forecast for the system to be fully reestablished in the state.
Electricity
In the electricity sector, RGE, the state concessionaire, says that the rains affected 381 municipalities in its concession area. As a result, 212,000 customers are currently without power.
Emergency Flights
Announced by the Ministry of Ports and Airports on Thursday (09/05), the first extra flights of the emergency air network to Rio Grande do Sul after the closure of Porto Alegre airport began to arrive in regions in the interior of the state. On Saturday (11/05), Gol, Latam, and Azul made flights to Passo Fundo, Santo Ângelo and Caxias do Sul. On Monday (13/05), flights continued to Passo Fundo, Santa Maria, Uruguaiana and Caxias do Sul.
How Will the Emergency Air Network Work?
Five regional airports in Rio Grande do Sul will be used: Pelotas, Santo Angelo, Uruguaina, Passo Fundo, and Caxias do Sul. In addition to Jaguaruna (SC) and the Florianópolis terminal (Santa Catarina). Also, the air bases of Canoas and Santa Maria (RS).
