São Luiz dam in São Marcos downgraded from emergency to alert

The São Luiz dam in São Marcos has been downgraded from an emergency status to an alert level following successful mitigation efforts. The change, announced late Saturday night, follows the identification of structural fissures on Wednesday after heavy rains caused an atypical rise in reservoir volume.

To stabilize the structure, technical teams implemented several measures, including lowering the water level to a safety margin and plugging identified cracks. Emergency operations utilized high-power pumps and drainage equipment to achieve a flow rate of 3.2 million liters per hour, relieving pressure on the reservoir while regulating outflow to the Jaguari River to prevent flooding.

As a result of the reduced risk, 185 residents who were evacuated from high-risk areas were authorized to return to their homes on Sunday. However, authorities maintain that access to the dam remains restricted as permanent repairs continue. Additionally, classes at the Antônio Pecini Municipal School have been temporarily transferred to the São Marcos State College.