Hailstorm causes damage and affects 550 families in Seberi, Rio Grande do Sul

The Santo Antônio neighborhood was one of the most affected by the hailstorm that caused damage in Seberi, in the north of Rio Grande do Sul this Friday (11). According to the city hall, 550 families have already registered reporting losses, but the number could still increase.

This Saturday (12), residents work to remove wet furniture, protect their homes and cover damaged roofs. Some of the affected families began to receive tarpaulins.

In the house of housewife Sirlei Pereira de Siqueira, water reached furniture, mattresses and bedding.

"We turned the mattress over so we could sleep the next day. It was a really scary thing," he said.

Housewife Roselei de Fátima da Silva Ribas also had furniture affected and said she was without a usable bed.

"Bed, wardrobe, sofa, it was a loss. I don't know what I'm going to do to clean it up, things are ugly here at home," he said.

According to the coordinator of Seberi's Civil Defense, Gilmar Sbiacheski, the damage survey has not yet been completed. Affected residents should contact city hall from Monday to register.

"We are still carrying out a survey and we are asking those people who were affected, who from Monday onwards can come to the city hall to register so that we can carry out this survey, right? We already have a preliminary survey, right? More cases will certainly arise, we will be responding in the best way possible, and we ask our community to remain calm", he said.

To assist with the service, the state Civil Defense must send 1,200 tiles to the municipality at this first moment. The city hall also sent the necessary documentation to request the emergency decree.

The hail also caused damage in other municipalities in the region. In Três Passos, ice blocks fell for about 15 minutes during the night. The municipal Civil Defense continued to survey the damage.

In Santa Bárbara do Sul, the hailstorm occurred during the early hours of the morning, frightening residents and causing damage.

In Iraí, the Uruguay River exceeded the flood level, but there are no records of displaced people or homeless people. According to Civil Defense, the level shows signs of stabilization.