Pregnant Miss Brazil who vanished while visiting Rio Grande do Sul during deadly floods that killed at least 57 is found safe

Pregnant former Miss Brazil has been found safe after going missing while visiting Rio Grande do Sul during deadly floods, leaving her American husband desperately trying to find her.

Natália Anderle, 37, who is seven months pregnant, lost touch with her family and friends four days ago while in Roca Sales, in the Vales Region, as confirmed by Cleber Rodrigues, head of Civil Defense, according to the Brazil news outlet G1. 

Anderle, currently living in the United States, traveled to Brazil to reunite with her family and prepare for the birth of her child in Roca Sales, her hometown.

In her most recent social media post on Tuesday, she mentioned the disappearance of her brother's dog from a rural property in Roca Sales due to the flooding.

Evandro Hazzy, president of Miss Grand Brazil, revealed in an Instagram post shared by Metropoles on Saturday that he 'just spoke to Natália and heard from her that they are fine. They were left isolated and without communication. Thank you Lord.'

Across the state, 67 people remain missing, with 57 fatalities. Additionally, 42,221 people have been reported to be displaced from their homes. 

Pregnant former Miss Brazil has been found after going missing while visiting Rio Grande do Sul during deadly floods, leaving her American husband desperately trying to find her

Across the state, 67 people remain missing, with 57 fatalities. Additionally, 42,221 people have been reported to be displaced from their homes.

Natália Anderle, 37, who is seven months pregnant, lost touch with her family and friends four days ago while in Roca Sales, in the Vales Region. Pictured: Anderle, 2008 winner (right) crowns the new Miss Brazil in 2009

Currently, 9,581 people are housed in shelters, while 32,640 are seeking refuge with relatives or friends.

A total of 300 municipalities out of the state's 496 have reported various problems, affecting approximately 422,307 individuals, according to reports.

Rodrigues urged anyone in the region who has seen anything to come forward with any information.

'What we know is that she came to visit the family home with the hope of welcoming her son to Roca Sales. We are asking anyone who is in the region and knows the family to bring information about them, if possible', he said in Portuguese.

Natália, the daughter of farmers, also resided with her family in Encantado, a neighboring city severely affected by the storms in the Taquari Valley.

Eric Thornton, her American husband, had been desperately trying to contact her.

Prior to being crowned Miss Brazil 2008, she worked for around 15 days as a maid to pay for her cosmetology training. Following her victory, she invested in businesses within the construction and agricultural sectors alongside her brother, Lucas.

Amilton Fontana, the mayor of Roca Sales, highlighted the severe challenges faced by the city in communication and basic services.

'Once again, the Municipality was severely impacted by the flood of the Taquari River, which destroyed houses, businesses and access roads.'

Anderle, currently living in the United States, traveled to Brazil to reunite with her family and prepare for the birth of her child in Roca Sales, her hometown (Pictured: Anderele enjoys a boat ride at a beach party in central Vietnam on June 25, 2008)

In her most recent social media post on Tuesday, she mentioned the disappearance of her brother's dog from a rural property in Roca Sales due to the flooding. (Pictured:  Anderle attends the II Brazil Foundation Gala Miami on March 26, 2013 in Miami, Florida)

'It will be necessary to start over again. But the priority is the search for missing people in rural areas. To this end, we reinforce the importance of support aerial', said the mayor in Portuguese. 

The storms in Brazil have sparked floods and caused a hydroelectric dam to collapse.

Shocking images and video show people wading through chest-high muddy water and huge swathes of land submerged in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the country's south. 

The region has since declared a state of emergency with the death toll expected to rise and a desperate search underway for dozens of missing people among collapsed homes, bridges and roads. 

Storm damage has affected nearly 150 municipalities in the state, also injuring 36 people and displacing more than 10,000.

Part of the structure of the hydroelectric dam '14 de Julho' located between the town of Cotipora and the city of Bento Goncalves has also collapsed on Thursday, raising the level of water in the Taquari river. 

The 14 de Julho dam dam in Rio Grande do Sul partially collapsed due to the floods

Aerial view shows a flooded area of Capela de Santana, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on May 2, 2024

Aerial view shows a flooded area of Capela de Santana, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on May 2, 2024

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on May 1, 2024

Rescue workers stand near a flooded area next to the Taquari River during heavy rains in Encantado in Rio Grande do Sul on May 2, 2024

An aerial view shows flooded areas in Encantado city in Rio Grande do Sul on May 1

The downpour started on Monday and was expected to last through Friday. In some areas, such as valleys, mountain slopes and cities, more than six inches of rain fell in 24 hours, according to Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology, known by the Portuguese acronym INMET, on Tuesday.

Governor Eduardo Leite said Rio Grande do Sul was dealing with 'the worst disaster in [its] history,' and added, 'We are living a very critical moment in the state.'

'With the deepest pain in my heart, I know it will be even more,' the governor said of the death toll.

President Lula, who has blamed the torrent on climate change, arrived in the town of Santa Maria in the morning with a delegation of ministers and held a working meeting with Leite and other officials to coordinate rescue efforts, the government said.

The president promised 'there will be no lack of human or material resources' to 'minimize the suffering this extreme event... is causing in the state.'

The federal government, he added, 'will be 100 percent at the disposition' of state officials.

This handout picture released by the Brazilian Presidency shows a woman being assisted by members of the Air Force after being rescued in a helicopter from a flooded area of Rio Grande do Sul State, at the Santa Maria Air Base in southern Brazil, on May 2

Debris piles up on a bridge over the Pardinho River after heavy rains in Sinimbu, in the Vale do Rio Pardo region of Rio Grande do Sul on May 1

Residents and a dog are evacuated from a flooded area in the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul State on May 2

The roads of Encantado city in Rio Grande do Sul are nearly totally submerged on May 1

An aerial view shows a flooded area in the region of Guaiba Islands in Porto Alegre on May 2

Firefighters rescue a man and his dog from a flooded area at the city center of Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul on May 2

Central authorities have already made available 12 aircraft, 45 vehicles and 12 boats as well as 626 soldiers to help clear roads, distribute food, water and mattresses, and set up shelters, a press statement said.

As the rains continued, forecasts warned the state's main Guaiba River, which has already overflowed its banks in some areas, would reach an extraordinary level of 9.8 feet by Thursday and more than 13 feet the next day.

Entire communities in Rio Grande do Sul state have been completely cut off as persistent rains have destroyed bridges and blocked roads, and left towns without even telephone or internet services.

Rescuers and soldiers have been scrambling to free families trapped in their homes, many stuck on rooftops to escape rising waters.