Elon Musk Announces Free Starlink Internet Support in Brazil after Severe Flooding

Elon Musk Announces Free Starlink Internet Support in Brazil after Severe Flooding

  • Elon Musk has responded to Brazil's flood crisis with 1000 Starlink terminal donation to help in search and rescue efforts
  • At least 100 people had died in Brazil following the floods as of Wednesday, May 8, with the southern part of the southern American country being the hardest hit
  • In Kenya, the floods have claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands, even as the weatherman indicated that the rains were subsiding

Tech magnate Elon Musk has announced that he will donate 1000 Starlink satellite terminals to emergency responders working in flood-hit Brazil.

Volunteers take back equipment from Lake Guaiba as a storm brews in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on May 8, 2024.
Volunteers at Lake Guaiba as a storm brews in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Death toll from the floods that have ravaged southern Brazil for days surpassed 100. Photo ANSELMO CUNHA.
Source: Getty Images

Flooding situation in Brazil

Musk's generous contribution is aimed at aiding communication efforts during the ongoing disaster relief operations.

The heavy rains have destroyed critical infrastructure, including electricity, roads, and telephone connectivity, and internet services have been disconnected in some areas.

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"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.

This move is expected to greatly benefit the local communities by ensuring uninterrupted communication, which is crucial in coordinating rescue and relief efforts.

As of Wednesday, May 8, the devastating floods in Brazil had resulted in the loss of at least 100 lives, with the southern regions facing the most severe impact.

Flooding in Kenya

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the catastrophic floods have led to the death of more than 200 individuals and have forced thousands from their homes, despite forecasts by the Kenya Meteorological Department (Met) suggesting a decrease in rainfall.

The rains had delayed the reopening of school by two weeks. President William Ruto announced that schooling would resume on Monday, May 13, after Met said the rains were easing up.

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Elon Musk's Neuralink shows quadriplegic playing chess with brain implant

Legit.ng previously reported that Neuralink on Wednesday streamed a video of its first human patient playing computer chess with his mind and talking about the brain implant making that possible.

Noland Arbaugh, 29, who was left disabled from the shoulders down by a diving accident eight years ago, told of playing chess and the videogame "Civilization" as well as taking Japanese and French lessons by controlling a computer screen cursor with his brain.

Musk's neurotechnology company installed a brain implant in its first human test subject in January, with the billionaire head of Tesla and X touting it as a success.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

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