DRAMATIC footage shows an iconic World Cup football stadium left completely flooded after torrential rain battered Brazil for days.
The “apocalyptic” floods have caused massive destruction in the southern part of the country and have killed at least 100 people.
As the heavy rainfall hit the country, Brazil’s Estádio Beira-Rio has closed after being caught up in the state’s Rio Grande do Sul “worst disaster.”
Shocking drone footage shows the stadium submerged underwater after the devastating deluge that swamped Brazil last week.
The stadium in Porto Alegre, home to Sport Club Internacional, will not host any matches until at least May 27.
The 50,000-capacity stadium hosted five matches during the 2014 World Cup.
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It’s the latest stadium to close due to severe flooding after the state’s Gremio Arena and Estádio Alfredo Jaconi were also inundated.
In the video, hundreds of houses can be seen submerged, with only their roofs visible as locals were using small boards and surfboards to move around.
The flood-ravaged country is still reeling from the catastrophe, as emergency services continued to try and rescue survivors.
The heavy downpours have cost the lives of at least 100 people while another 130 in Rio Grande do Sul are missing.
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The floods have affected some 400 municipalities causing a great deal of destruction across the state leaving 230,000 residents displaced.
Rescue efforts were halted as forecasters are predicting more rain and strong winds are set to follow towards the end of the week.
The floods began last week and destroyed highways and bridges in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Footage shows cars being swept away while a bridge completely vanishes in the strong current.
On Tuesday, state governor Eduardo Leite had warned the human toll was likely to rise as “the emergency is continuing to develop” in the state capital of Porto Alegre and other cities and towns.
The state’s governor Eduardo Leite, speaking at a news conference earlier this week urged residents to seek shelter as the anticipated downpour may cause more severe flooding.
“It isn’t the time to return home,” he said.
Authorities urged people not to return to affected areas due to possible landslide and health hazards.
“Contaminated water can transmit diseases,” civil defense spokeswoman Sabrina Ribas warned on Wednesday.
Estádio Beira-Rio was one of the 12 venues used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosting five of the matches in the tournament.
Estádio Beira-Rio
Estádio Beira-Rio, home to Brazil’s Sport Club Internacional, was one of the 12 venues used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
It hosted five of the matches in the tournament.
- France – Honduras June 15, 2014
- Australia – Netherlands, June 18, 2014
- South Korea – Algeria, June 22, 2014
- Nigeria – Argentina, June 25, 2014
- Germany – Algeria, June 30, 2014
Mayor of Eldorado do Sul state Ernani de Freitas said the city will be totally evacuated adding it will take at least a year to recover.
Authorities estimate it will cost up to £745 million to clean up the damage.
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Porto Alegre is home to about 1.4 million people.
The state’s Guaiba River, which runs through Porto Alegre, reached historic levels and five dams are at risk of rupturing, with two of them in “imminent” danger.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
