Heavy rains and flooding in southern Brazil have left at least 147 dead and more than 800 injured, Rio Grande do Sul’s civil defense agency reported Monday morning.
Rescuers rescued more than 76,000 people in the past two weeks in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, but at least 127 remain missing, according to authorities.
More than 2.1 million people have been affected by the floods, and more than 538,000 have been displaced.
The Guaíba River, which flows through the state capital, Porto Alegre, saw its water level rise to 4.8 meters on Monday morning, below last week’s record of 5.35 meters. but more significant than the 4.76 meter peak of the historic floods of 1941. Rain is expected to continue on Monday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Monday that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had postponed a trip to Chile this week to focus on the government’s response to the disaster.
The new dates of his trip will be announced “in due course,” the Foreign Office added.
