Local authorities said yesterday, Sunday, that the death toll from torrential rains that caused floods in Rio Grande do Sul state in southern Brazil has risen to at least 78 people, with tens of thousands displaced.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in the state, accompanied by a group of ministers, to discuss rescue and reconstruction work with local authorities.
Volunteers assisted in the ongoing rescue efforts, using boats, high-speed jet skis and even swimming.
The state’s Civil Defense stated that the death toll may rise with reports of 105 people missing yesterday, up from 70 the previous day. He added that he is currently investigating whether four other deaths are linked to the storms.
Floods caused by storms in the past few days have damaged about two-thirds of the state’s 500 towns and cities, displacing more than 88,000 people.
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