According to Civil Defense, the Tayo Dam in Alto Vale do Itajaí had all its floodgates closed after it stopped leaking on Wednesday evening (1st). However, when it began to rain again in the region, within a few hours the structure’s capacity exceeded 100% and this Thursday morning (2) it began to leak for the third time in less than a month (2).

A photo taken Thursday morning (2) shows the Tayo Dam beginning to leak again – Photo: Santa Catarina Civil Defense/Disclosure/ND

In a note released by the State Civil Defense, the gradual opening of the Oeste Dam floodgates, announced and carried out on Wednesday (1st), was a procedure adopted to “reduce the depth of water” passing through the spillway.

However, in the early evening of this Wednesday (1st), when the dam’s occupancy rate again fell below 100%, the State Civil Defense immediately closed the floodgates, stating that “early closing of the floodgates will help reduce the water level. in the Alto do Itajaí valley before the arrival of the rains.”

The note, signed by hydrologist Diison Pelinson, also states that “dam levels should continue to decline overnight this Wednesday (1) and between the end of this night and early Thursday morning (2).” not happening.

Due to heavy rain, the Tayo dam leaked again.

According to Civil Defense stations in Tayo, the city received 34.19 millimeters of rain in the last 12 hours, contributing to an unexpected rise in reservoir levels. In Rio do Campo, a town just above Taio, rain was more intense in the last 12 hours: 41.98 millimeters.

This Thursday around 8:20 (2) the water came back over the spillway. According to the agency, there is still a risk of gradual flooding throughout the Itajaí Valley.

In a new statement on Thursday morning (2), the Santa Catarina Civil Defense reports that the dam breach is an operation monitored and controlled by a technical team.

This Thursday morning (2), the level of the Itajaí do Oeste river in Taio was 5.64 meters and the city remained in a state of observation. In Rio do Sul, at about 10 a.m., the level of the Itajaí Açu River was at 5.77 meters, which corresponds to a dangerous level.

It is only when the river exceeds 7.5 meters that the largest town in Alto Vale do Itajaí begins to experience flooding. Civil Defense says it is constantly monitoring the situation and will provide further updates.

Situation with other flood control structures

At around 10:50 am this Thursday (2), the Oeste Dam in Taio had all gates closed and occupancy was 101.21%. The level of stored water was 23.45 meters.

At the same time, in Ituporang, the Sul Dam was 79.60% full and had a water reserve of 28.79 meters. Four locks are closed, and one remains open. Both have closed extravasation channels.

The José Boito Dam, which mainly protects the Blumenau region, is the largest flood control structure in Santa Catarina. Photo: Archive/Defesa Civil de Ibirama/Reproduction ND

At José Buate, the Norte Dam remains with both gates closed. The reservoir level was 53.04% and 33.35 meters of water around 10 am on Thursday (2).