Brazil under water

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva toured the southern region of the country on Thursday, where floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains have claimed the lives of 29 individuals, with expectations of the death toll increasing.

In response to the crisis, authorities in Rio Grande do Sul have declared a state of emergency, as rescue efforts persist in locating numerous individuals reported as missing amidst the wreckage of collapsed structures, including homes, bridges, and roads.

The impact of the storms has been felt across nearly 150 municipalities in the state, resulting in 36 injuries and displacing over 10,000 people.

Governor Eduardo Leite characterized the situation in Rio Grande do Sul as “the most severe disaster in [its] history.”