Rescue efforts in flood-stricken southern Brazil were hampered on Wednesday (May 8) by renewed rain and the threat of lightning and strong winds. These weather conditions risk worsening calamity that has already claimed at least 100 lives and displaced over 163,000 people.

The floods that started last week, caused by unusually heavy rains, have destroyed highways and bridges in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Around 128 people are still missing, the state's civil defense authority said and urged people living close to the Patos lagoon to leave their homes immediately.

The army soldiers were seen using the amphibious armored cars to rescue people from flooding in Canoas, where the waters have reached a depth of some three meters (10 ft) and the streets can only be navigated by boat.

"I have been living in this tractor with my children, to survive this calamity. We believe it will pass," an exhausted Farias told Reuters. He said he had slept little and eaten less.

<h2>RISK OF MORE FLOODS</h2>

Brazil's disaster center placed the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul under high risk as heavy rain is expected to resume imminently. Weather forecaster MetSul warns of very large floods of serious proportions for the area.

In neighboring Uruguay, storms and flooding have closed highways and left nearly 800 people displaced and over 3,000 people without power, the government said.

In Brazil, many residents in and around Porto Alegre, a city of 1.3 million people, have been living in darkness after power companies cut off electricity for security reasons.

The residents have faced shortages of products, especially drinking water. Supermarket managers said there was no access for supply trucks or employees trying to get to work. Mineral water sales were restricted in some supermarkets.

Meanwhile the volunteer rescue operations after dark in Porto Alegre were also hampered by looting. 
"We are not going out to rescue people at night without an armed escort, because it has become too risky," volunteer Lauro Strogulski said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Rescue efforts in flood-stricken southern Brazil were hampered on Wednesday (May 8) by renewed rain and the threat of lightning and strong winds. These weather conditions risk worsening calamity that has already claimed at least 100 lives and displaced over 163,000 people.

Rescue efforts in flood-stricken southern Brazil were hampered on Wednesday (May 8) by renewed rain and the threat of lightning and strong winds. These weather conditions risk worsening calamity that has already claimed at least 100 lives and displaced over 163,000 people. The floods that started last week, caused by unusually heavy rains, have destroyed highways and bridges in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Around 128 people are still missing, the state's civil defense authority said and urged people living close to the Patos lagoon to leave their homes immediately. The army soldiers were seen using the amphibious armored cars to rescue people from flooding in Canoas, where the waters have reached a depth of some three meters (10 ft) and the streets can only be navigated by boat. "I have been living in this tractor with my children, to survive this calamity. We believe it will pass," an exhausted Farias told Reuters. He said he had slept little and eaten less. RISK OF MORE FLOODS Brazil's disaster center placed the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul under high risk as heavy rain is expected to resume imminently. Weather forecaster MetSul warns of very large floods of serious proportions for the area. In neighboring Uruguay, storms and flooding have closed highways and left nearly 800 people displaced and over 3,000 people without power, the government said. In Brazil, many residents in and around Porto Alegre, a city of 1.3 million people, have been living in darkness after power companies cut off electricity for security reasons. The residents have faced shortages of products, especially drinking water. Supermarket managers said there was no access for supply trucks or employees trying to get to work. Mineral water sales were restricted in some supermarkets. Meanwhile the volunteer rescue operations after dark in Porto Alegre were also hampered by looting. "We are not going out to rescue people at night without an armed escort, because it has become too risky," volunteer Lauro Strogulski said. (With inputs from agencies)

Fresh rains hinder rescue efforts in flood-ravaged southern Brazil

Planes are submerged and runways are underwater in Brazil. Floods have destroyed roads and bridges in several cities triggering landslides and leaving a path of destruction.

Brazil flood leaves 150,000 homeless, engulfs cities across South Brazil

Heavy rains battering Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed 39 people, local authorities said on Friday, and the death toll is expected to rise as dozens still have not been accounted for.

Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense authority said 68 people were still missing and at least 24,000 had been displaced as the storms affected more than half of the 497 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina.

"These numbers can still materially change over the following days as we gain access to more regions", Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite told reporters.

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In several towns, streets essentially turned into rivers, with roads and bridges destroyed. The storm also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam structure at a small hydroelectric power plant.

A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at risk of collapsing, authorities said, ordering people who live nearby to evacuate.

In Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba river broke its banks, and flooded streets blocked access to the city's historic central neighborhoods.

The state is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rains and others of drought.

Local scientists believe the pattern has been intensifying due to climate change.

Heavy rains had already hit Rio Grande do Sul last September, as an extratropical cyclone caused floods that killed more than 50 people.

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That came after more than two years of a persistent drought due to the La Nina phenomenon, with only scarce showers.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to the state on Thursday to visit affected locations and discuss rescue efforts with the governor.

Back in Brasilia, Lula vowed on Friday that his government would support local rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Heavy rains battering Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed 39 people, local authorities said on Friday, and the death toll is expected to rise as dozens still have not been accounted for.

Heavy rains battering Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed 39 people, local authorities said on Friday, and the death toll is expected to rise as dozens still have not been accounted for. Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense authority said 68 people were still missing and at least 24,000 had been displaced as the storms affected more than half of the 497 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina. "These numbers can still materially change over the following days as we gain access to more regions", Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite told reporters. Also read: Kremlin accuses David Cameron of 'direct escalation' over arms for Ukraine In several towns, streets essentially turned into rivers, with roads and bridges destroyed. The storm also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam structure at a small hydroelectric power plant. A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at risk of collapsing, authorities said, ordering people who live nearby to evacuate. In Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba river broke its banks, and flooded streets blocked access to the city's historic central neighborhoods. The state is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rains and others of drought. Local scientists believe the pattern has been intensifying due to climate change. Heavy rains had already hit Rio Grande do Sul last September, as an extratropical cyclone caused floods that killed more than 50 people. Also read: US airstrike in Syria mistakenly killed civilian, not al Qaeda leader, Pentagon admits That came after more than two years of a persistent drought due to the La Nina phenomenon, with only scarce showers. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to the state on Thursday to visit affected locations and discuss rescue efforts with the governor. Back in Brasilia, Lula vowed on Friday that his government would support local rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Rains in southern Brazil kill at least 39, some 70 still missing

Heavy rains are devastating the South American nation of Brazil over the last few days. Now as a tropical cyclone batters and soaks the southern region of the nation, the death toll from torrential rains has risen to 36, while more than 2300 are left homeless.

Tropical cyclone batters & soaks southern Brazil | WION Climate Tracker

The South American nation of Brazil is often hit by landslides. In the latest, the country's southern part was hit by a landslide following heavy rain. The landslide ripped across section of the highway sweeping some 20 cars and trucks. The mud came rushing down a steep slope after days of heavy rains in the state of Piranhas.

WION Climate Tracker: Torrential rain inundates southern Brazil; emergency in 17 cities

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Fresh rains hinder rescue efforts in flood-ravaged southern Brazil

Brazil flood leaves 150,000 homeless, engulfs cities across South Brazil

Rains in southern Brazil kill at least 39, some 70 still missing

Tropical cyclone batters & soaks southern Brazil | WION Climate Tracker

WION Climate Tracker: Torrential rain inundates southern Brazil; emergency in 17 cities