How is the Rio Grande, where the truck sank and two young people died in Colombia, SP

Full of the Rio Grande in Colombia, SP — Photo: Reproduction/EPTV The Rio Grande, where a pickup truck with three friends fell and submerged in the early morning of Saturday (17), in Colombia (SP), is one of the largest tourist attractions in the region. It originates in the Mantiqueira Mountains, in Minas Gerais, and travels about 1.2 thousand kilometers until it joins the Paranaíba River and forms the Paraná River. The river basin is formed by 393 municipalities and 60.2% of the drainage area is in Minas Gerais, and another 39.8% in São Paulo. According to the Civil Defense of the State of São Paulo, the point where the pickup truck submerged with the young men, aged between 17 and 23 years, has a depth of approximately five meters. However, this measure refers only to the embarkation point of the Municipal Shoreline of Colombia and does not represent the entire Rio Grande. The depth and force of the water change along the course. The river also supplies a system with 12 reservoirs and is used for energy generation, supply, irrigation, agriculture, fish farming, fishing, and tourism. (see below) According to the Civil Defense, it was raining in Colombia at the time of the accident and the current was turbulent. After the pickup truck fell into the river, the three young men managed to get out of the vehicle, but two of them were dragged by the waters. READ ALSO - Firefighters find the body of the second young man who disappeared in the Rio Grande - Body of the young man who disappeared after the pickup truck fell into the Rio Grande is found - Fishermen mobilize in the search for missing young men in the Rio Grande, in the interior of SP - Young man dove to try and save a friend, says survivor - Video shows the pickup truck that submerged in the Rio Grande in the interior of SP The body of Tiago Henrique de Matos Silva, 23 years old, who was driving the vehicle, was found on Sunday (18), near the bridge between Colombia and Planura (MG). The body of Pedro da Silva Firmino, 17 years old, was located on the morning of Monday (19). "I don't know how to swim, frankly, I don't know how to swim. I managed to float there. I was holding onto it [the intake pump]," he said. Fishermen search for missing young men in the Rio Grande, in Colombia, SP — Photo: Reproduction/Civil Defense Depth and current vary along the river The depth of the Rio Grande varies according to the stretch. The bottom, width, and water volume are influenced by the relief, the tributaries, the rains, and the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants. At the canoe embarkation point of the Municipal Shoreline of Colombia, where the accident occurred, the Civil Defense estimated the depth to be approximately five meters. The current also does not have the same intensity throughout the entire extent. In the early morning of Saturday, it was raining and the water was turbulent, according to the Civil Defense. The municipal body also recorded wind, murky water, and strong current, and reported that the conditions hindered the work of the divers and reduced visibility within the river. During the search, fishermen joined the rescue teams and traversed the banks with canoes. One of the vessels used a sonar to monitor the river bottom. The volunteers also used a type of hook to try and locate submerged objects. When something was identified, the firefighters followed to the spot to verify. The pickup truck was located and pulled out of the water with the help of an excavator on Saturday afternoon. The search for the occupants mobilized teams from the Fire Departments of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, the state and municipal civil defenses, the Military Police, and the Emergency Medical Service (Samu). Image shows the headlights of the pickup truck shining in the water — Photo: Security Cameras From the Mantiqueira Mountains to the Paraná River The Rio Grande originates in Bocaina de Minas (MG), in the Mantiqueira Mountains, at an altitude of approximately 1,9 thousand meters. After traveling about 1.2 thousand kilometers, it meets the Paranaíba River at the border between Santa Clara d’Oeste (SP) and Carneirinho (MG). From this confluence, the two form the Paraná River. In part of the route, the Rio Grande functions as a natural border between Minas Gerais and São Paulo. In the region of Ribeirão Preto and Franca, the river bathes or delimits areas of municipalities such as Rifaina, Igarapava, Miguelópolis, Guaíra, and Colombia. Along this course, there are stretches with characteristics similar to those of large lakes, formed by the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants. The river basin includes the Rio Grande and the watercourses that flow into it. Among the main tributaries are the Aiuruoca, Mortes, Verde, Sapucaí, Pardo, and Turvo rivers. According to the National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA), the basin occupies approximately 143.2 thousand square kilometers and reaches, totally or partially, 393 municipalities, and approximately 9 million people live in the municipalities within the basin. Searches continue in the Rio Grande, in Colombia (SP) — Photo: Security Cameras Energy, irrigation, and supply Along the Rio Grande system are 12 reservoirs used for energy generation: Camargos, Itutinga, Funil Grande, Furnas, Mascarenhas de Moraes, Luiz Carlos Barreto de Carvalho, Jaguara, Igarapava, Volta Grande, Porto Colômbia, Marimbondo, and Água Vermelha. In the region of Ribeirão Preto and Franca, the power plants of Jaguara, Igarapava, Volta Grande, Porto Colômbia, and Marimbondo transformed different stretches of the river into large reservoirs. In these places, the watercourse widens and can present characteristics similar to those of a lake. In other places, the river passes through narrower channels and may have more intense current. The ANA establishes rules for the operation of the system according to the stored volume and the dry and rainy periods. In addition to energy generation, the measures must consider other uses of the water, such as supply, irrigation, and tourism. The basin also concentrates industries, irrigated agricultural areas, and aquaculture parks intended for fish farming. Fishing and tourism in Colombia In Colombia, the Rio Grande is part of the routine of fishermen, residents, and visitors. According to the State Tourism Secretariat of São Paulo, sport fishing attracts tourists throughout the year. The municipality has ports focused on fishing, inns, boats, and pilot services, professionals who know the routes and accompany visitors during activities on the river. Sport fishing, nautical tourism, and events related to fishing activities are among the attractions offered by the city. The Municipal Shoreline, where the pickup truck entered the water, is used for walking, leisure, outdoor activities, and access to the Rio Grande. There is also an embarkation point used by canoes and other small vessels in this place. Pickup truck removed from the Rio Pardo after accident in Colombia, SP — Photo: Kelven Melo/EPTV How the accident happened The three friends, residents of Indaiatuba (SP), were staying in the region and were returning to the inn after walking around the city. According to Lucas, the group saw a lit area near the river and decided to pass through it. They believed that the street followed the Rio Grande, but the road ended at the Municipal Shoreline embarkation point. In a note, the Civil Defense of the State of São Paulo informed that the driver did not notice the end of the paved stretch. That is why the pickup truck entered the river through the embarkation point. Lucas estimates that the vehicle was moving at approximately 45 km/h. According to him, the friend still tried to brake but could not stop before reaching the water. The front windows were open, and the three occupants managed to get out of the pickup truck. Lucas, who was in the back seat, was the last to leave the vehicle. Tiago, who was driving the pickup truck, was carried by the current. According to Lucas, Pedro took off his shoes and hat and dove to try and save his friend. The teenager managed to reach Tiago and tried to pull him towards the bank. Lucas said that, once out of the water, he looked for a rope or some object to throw to the two of them, but found nothing. He followed his friends along the bank for about 50 meters, but fell on rocks, hurt his foot, and lost sight of the two of them. "It's a very bad thing to have to give this testimony. I wish we were all here saying this." Firefighters search for missing young men in the Rio Grande, in Colombia (SP) — Photo: Samuel da Silva/Portal Notícias Colombia SP *Under the supervision of Flávia Santucci