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DRAMATIC new footage shows a major airport drowned in 7ft of water after “apocalyptic” floods continue to hit Brazil.
At least 145 have died and more than half a million have been left homeless as endless torrential batter the country’s south.
Salgado Filho International Airport was under at least 7ft of water with planes seen submerged on the runway
Inside the flooded ground floor of the airport in Porto Alegre
The airport is completely closed and only accessible by boat
All flights have been cancelled since May 3 as rains continue to pour downSalgado Filho International Airport has been caught up in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul’s “worst disaster.”
A shocking video showed jumbo jets floating in water next to a desolate airport that now can only be reached by boat.
The entire first floor and some of the second, including the departure’s lounge, has been flooded with dirty waters filled with debris and dead animals, Globo reports.
The last flight out of Salgado Filho took place at 8pm on May 3 and since then the government has been desperately trying to save the site from further damage.
It comes as Brazilian authorities reported on Sunday that the death toll in the state had risen to 145 – up from 136 on the day before.
Another 125 people remain unaccounted for in Rio Grande do Sul and more rain is expected to pour down on the devastated state.
Over two million people have been affected by the deluge, which experts link to climate change exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The crisis has left more 619,000 displaced out of a population of 10.9 million in Rio Grande do Sul.
Parts of the state capital of Porto Alegre, home to 1.4 million people, remain underwater.
Sofas and other belongings could be seen floating through the city while people rowed boats down flooded streets.
According to the National Institute of Meteorology, heavy rain will continue in the coming hours.
In the northeast of the state, there is a “high risk of major flooding and river overflows, as well as significant landslides”.
Last week, shocking footage showed the iconic Estádio Beira-Rio World Cup football stadium left completely flooded after the torrential rains.
The 50,000-capacity stadium in Porto Alegre, home to Sport Club Internacional, will not host any matches until at least May 27.
It followed a terrifying video of a bridge collapsing and vanishing into the muddy water as cars were swept away and roads crumbled.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the state will rebuild what was destroyed.
“We know that not everything can be recovered, mothers have lost their children and children have lost their mothers,” said Lula in a statement to mark Mother’s Day.
The federal government has plegded $10billion (£8bn) for reconstruction in Rio Grande do Sul.
More footage of the international airport underwater
AFP
Over 125 are still missing as bodies are pulled from the water
Drone footage shows the Wold Cup hosting Beira-Rio stadium submerged in water
The Gremio stadium in Rio Grande do Sul state was also inundated
Brazil has been devastated by floods that have killed at least 145 people
A resident being airlifted to safety
English (US)