The Santa Catarina government closed the José Boiteux Norte Dam’s floodgates last Saturday night.
Situated in the Vale do Itajaí, this dam is on indigenous Xokleng land. It hasn’t been in use since 2014.
The next morning, police and Xokleng tribe members clashed.
Three indigenous people got injured during the conflict and went to the hospital. Their condition is unknown.
The Xokleng community worries about the closure. They fear it will flood their land and low-lying villages.
So far, the authorities haven’t commented. A Federal Court called a Sunday meeting.
It involved Funai, the indigenous village, the state government, and the Federal Public Ministry.
Governor Jorginho Mello said the closure aims to protect people, including those in Blumenau.
Later that Saturday, a Federal Court ruling allowed state agents to enter the reservoir. They could even use federal police if needed.
The court also said the state must help the indigenous people. For example, they should provide rescue boats and distribute food and water.
Other nearby dams, Taió and Ituporanga, filled up and began to overflow on Sunday. Santa Catarina’s Civil Defense expected this.
Sunday morning saw more tension. Videos showed police using tear gas. Protesters also targeted a Civil Defense vehicle.
The clash happened on the road to the dam’s control center. Machinery and teams were already there to close the floodgates.
Background Dam Closure in Santa Catarina
The José Boiteux Norte Dam was closed due to a severe cyclone that has been battering South Brazil for the past five days.
The cyclone has dumped an excessive amount of rain on the region, prompting urgent action from authorities.
The government decided to close the dam’s floodgates to manage the high water levels and mitigate flood risks.
This move aims to protect various communities, including those in the city of Blumenau, from potential flooding.
The persistent rain has already caused nearby dams like Taió and Ituporanga to reach full capacity and overflow.
Consequently, Santa Catarina’s Civil Defense saw the dam closure as a necessary step in their broader flood management plan.
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