Heavy rains battering Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed at the least 83 individuals, authorities mentioned on Monday, whereas greater than 100 have been nonetheless lacking.
The storms have affected greater than two-thirds of the almost 500 cities within the state, leaving about 122,000 individuals displaced, in line with the state civil defence authority.
Flooding from storms has destroyed roads and bridges in a number of cities, whereas triggering landslides and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric energy plant.
State Governor Eduardo Leite has emphasised that the dying toll ought to nonetheless considerably enhance as rescue staff achieve entry to extra areas.
Rio Grande do Sul’s civil defence mentioned 111 individuals have been nonetheless lacking, a quantity that has additionally been rising in the previous couple of days. On Sunday night, it had reported at the least 78 deaths and 105 lacking individuals.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday with most of his cupboard and mentioned paperwork wouldn’t cease the federal government from reconstructing the state.
