According to the latest bulletin, 95 people have been killed so far in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul by the highly unusual heavy rains hitting the area since April 19, Agencia Brasil reported. Governor Eduardo Leite confirmed that 131 people were missing and at least 401 towns (out of 497 statewide) had been affected.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite that the federal administration would spare no effort assisting the southeastern State get through the current heavy storms that have left at least 32 casualties, Agencia Brasil reported. The number of confirmed fatalities is expected to be higher as dozens of people were still unaccounted for.
At least five people were killed and 18 others went missing on Tuesday as heavy rains hit some 77 municipalities in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul bordering Uruguay and Argentina. A total of 3,742 people were reported to have been affected, while 95 lost their homes and 6 were injured. Almost 300 people needed to be evacuated and taken to shelters.
Some twenty-one people have been killed as a consequence of the torrential rain and winds caused by a cyclone in southern Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul neighboring Uruguay and Argentina. Local authorities said it was the state's worst-ever weather disaster given the number of deaths so far and the thousands left homeless.