The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said, with more than 115,000 people displaced.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

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In Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, devastating floods have led to a significant increase in mortality and displacement following a period of heavy rains. Local authorities have reported that the death toll has reached at least 78 individuals, while the number of those displaced by the flooding has surged to nearly 120,000. The floods have wreaked havoc across the region, affecting more than two-thirds of the almost 500 cities within the state, which shares its borders with Uruguay and Argentina.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, along with his cabinet, visited the region to coordinate with local officials on rescue operations and the reconstruction process. During his visit, President Lula emphasized the federal government's commitment through the Ministry of Transportation to assist in the repair of state infrastructure damaged by the floods. The community's involvement in rescue efforts has been marked by volunteers utilizing boats, jet skis, and even swimming to aid those affected.

The severity of the situation is underscored by the report from the state’s civil defense authority, which noted that over 100 individuals were missing, indicating the possibility of a further rise in the death toll. Compounding the disaster, the flooding has led to the destruction of infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and triggered landslides along with the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant. This infrastructure damage has left nearly half a million people without electricity.



Death toll rises in record-breaking Brazil floods

Massive flooding caused by heavy rain in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has pushed the death toll up at least 78 people by the end of Sunday, with nearly 120,000 people displaced. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his cabinet arrived in the region on Sunday morning to discuss rescue and reconstruction efforts with local authorities. LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA, President of Brazil, Brazilian President-Elect I know that we have many state roads that need repair. I want to tell you that I'm not worried, because the federal government, through the Ministry of Transportation, will help you recover the state roads. Volunteers with boats, jet skis, or that were even simply swimming, have helped ongoing rescue efforts. The death toll could still drastically increase, as over 100 people were reported missing on Sunday, according to the state's civil defense authority. Flooding from the storms over the past few days has affected more than two-thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the state, which sits on the border with Uruguay and Argentina. An Instagram video from the army's aviation command showed an officer hitting the roof of the house with a brick to rescue the child and pull him to safety. Reuters blurred the toddler's face to protect his identity. The toddler and his relatives were trapped in the floods in Laredo in southern Brazil, floods have destroyed roads and bridges in several cities. The rain also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant, leaving nearly half a million people without power on Sunday evening.

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