Rio de Janeiro - At least 97 people have died in flooding and landslides in a southern Brazilian state since the weekend in one of the worst weather-related catastrophes to hit the South American country in decades, authorities said late Wednesday.
The Santa Catarina civil defence said 13 bodies were recovered Wednesday and that at least 19 people were still missing.
A total of 1.5 million people were affected by the flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains, forcing 80,000 people to flee their homes the state civil defence reported. Up to 80,000 homes will remain without electricity overnight to Thursday.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva freed up 538 million dollars for reconstruction and support for the victims of heavy rains. On Wednesday he flew by helicopter over the towns that were devastated.
Up to eight municipalities had been cut off from the rest of the state. Six of them were declared disaster areas.
The rains also cut the supply of natural gas to several towns in Santa Catarina and the neighbouring state of Rio Grande do Sul, following damage to a gas pipe that is set to take at least three weeks to repair. (dpa)
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