Heavy rains in southern Brazil have caused landslides in the city of Rio de Janeiro and the state of Espiritu Santo, raising the death toll to 75.
There have been many landslides with heavy rains in the last 24 hours and evacuation efforts have been initiated in some regions. A state of emergency was declared in the city of Rio de Janeiro, some houses collapsed in the city of Petropolis and more than 500 people were forced to leave their homes.
More than 100 cities in Brazil have been affected by the rains. State Governor Eduardo Leite expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster and announced that the government is working to locate the missing and ensure safety in areas at risk.
The death toll from floods in Rio Grande do Sul state has risen to 75, with 103 people unaccounted for. Floods triggered landslides and caused the partial collapse of a dam at a hydroelectric power plant. The water level in Lake Guaiba in Porto Alegre reached its highest level on record. All flights were suspended at the airport in Porto Alegre.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the disaster area and pledged the federal government’s assistance. However, officials warned that the loss of life could increase. Heavy rains are expected to continue in the coming days, increasing the risk of further flooding.
