Billionaire Elon Musk announced that Starlink, his satellite internet company, will donate 1,000 terminals to emergency responders in southern Brazil’s flood-hit Rio Grande do Sul state. The region is facing the worst flooding in 80 years due to heavy rainfall, leading to at least 107 fatalities and numerous people trapped in homes and other locations.
Musk tweeted, “Given the terrible flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, @Starlink will donate 1000 terminals to emergency responders and make usage for all terminals in the region free until the region has recovered. I hope the best for the people of Brazil.”
The floods have caused widespread destruction, with infrastructure and bridges destroyed, and access to the state capital of Porto Alegre blocked. The weather department forecasts more rainfall, raising fears of further inundation. Governor Eduardo Leite estimated the flood damage at least 19 billion reais ($3.68 billion), while the federal government in Brasilia estimated the fiscal impact at 7.7 billion reais ($1.49 billion).
