The death toll from floods and landslides resulting from torrential rains in southern Brazil has risen to 56 dead and 67 missing, according to a new toll announced by the Civil Defense on Saturday.
The rise in water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul led to the blocking of roads and severe damage in the city of Porto Alegre, the state capital, where the authorities ordered the evacuation of some neighborhoods that were flooded with water.
A previous toll indicated that 39 people were killed as a result of the floods.
The mission of rescue personnel to search for potential victims and survivors is considered arduous, as entire cities have become practically isolated and inaccessible due to floods that have been sweeping this state for days, and as rain is expected to fall until tomorrow, Sunday at the very least.
The significant human and material damage is particularly concentrated in the central region of this border state with Argentina and Uruguay.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the region the day before Thursday, promising to provide the necessary human and material “resources” to confront the tragedy.
Climate expert Francisco Eliso Aquino said on Friday that the devastating storms hitting southern Brazil are the result of a “catastrophic combination” of global warming and the “El Niño” climate phenomenon.
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