Floods Hit Southern Brazil, Leaving People Homeless
Listen to the story
Cities in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, a state in Brazil, are dealing with serious flooding.
Rivers have overflowed in several towns, sending water into streets and houses.
The rain has affected 12 cities so far, and more than 190 people have been displaced from their homes.
Because of the danger, many schools have cancelled classes until conditions improve.
Strong winds are adding to the problem, with gusts reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour.
Authorities have placed the whole state on alert because of the storms and winds.
Weather experts say more heavy rain and strong winds are likely in the coming days.
Local governments are working to help families who have lost their homes.
They are also monitoring rivers closely to warn people if flooding gets worse.
This situation has become common in Rio Grande do Sul during periods of heavy rain.
Officials are asking residents in low areas to stay alert and follow safety advice.
The state has faced serious flooding problems in the past, so people are taking the warnings seriously.
Vocabulary7 words
- flooding
- when water covers land that is normally dry
- displaced
- forced to leave home because of danger
- cancelled
- stopped from happening
- alert
- an official warning to be careful
- gusts
- sudden strong movements of wind
- monitoring
- watching something carefully over time
- residents
- people who live in a place
Quiz
Answer key
1. More than 190 2. Because of the floods 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Cities in the south of Rio Grande do Sul are dealing with serious _____.
Rivers have _____ in several towns, sending water into streets and houses.
The rain has affected _____ cities so far, and more than _____ people have been displaced.
Many schools have _____ classes until conditions improve.
Strong winds are adding to the problem, with _____ reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour.
Authorities have placed the whole state on _____ because of the storms.
Local governments are working to help families who have lost their _____.
They are also _____ rivers closely to warn people if flooding gets worse.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think floods happen so often in this region?
- What can local governments do to help displaced families?
- How can schools prepare for extreme weather events?
- Do you think climate change is making storms like this worse? Why or why not?