Death toll from floods in southern Brazil rises to 147

The death toll from flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, rose to 147, local authorities reported Monday, while 127 people remain missing.

Heavy rain has caused several rivers and lakes in the region to reach their highest levels in history, while flooding has blocked streets and disrupted logistics, causing a shortage of essential products in some areas.

For his part, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has postponed a trip to Chile scheduled for this week to focus on the government’s response to the floods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Monday.

Lula’s official visit to Chile was scheduled for May 17 and 18 and “was postponed due to the need to monitor the flood situation in Río Grande do Sul, to coordinate care for the affected population and in the reconstruction tasks,” said an official note.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry added that the new date for the trip will be announced “in a timely manner”, while the Chilean Foreign Ministry said for its part that “both governments will continue to seek, through diplomatic channels, a new date to carry out this visit.” .

Some 10.9 million people live in the southernmost state of Brazil, which was once again on alert due to the risk of waters rising again to record levels.

[Con información de Reuters]

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