Brazil floods destroy nearly 100,000 homes, death toll surpasses 100

Nearly 100,000 homes have been destroyed while over 100 people are reported dead in the devastating flooding in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul in the country's South. More than a week of record-breaking rainfall has taken a toll over lives and lifelines in this part of Brazil with authorities scrambling to rescue affected individuals.

Brazil Floods: What's the current status?

Brazil's National Confederation of Municipalities said in an update on Wednesday (May 8) that overflowing rivers and floods in the state have affected around 1.45 million people and forced some 200,000 residents to flee their homes, Xinhua news agency reported.

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Nearly 100,000 homes of all types have been affected based on data from the Civil Defence agency. These many homes have sustained either total or partial damage since the state's worst weather-related disaster hit on April 29, according to the confederation.

The state also borders Argentina and Uruguay. As many as 414 of 497 towns in the state, which is also a top agricultural and livestock producer, have suffered from the storms and therefore declared emergencies.

The confederation estimates the economic losses at 4.6 billion reals (about $904 million), after it took into account the damage to housing and public infrastructure, as well as agriculture, livestock, industry, commerce and services.

In just one week, Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul saw five months' worth of rain, causing unprecedented flooding.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has promised that there would be "no lack of resources" in the rehabilitation of the displaced residents and that the rescue effort would continue till it achieves its objective.

"We understand the difficult financial situation faced by Rio Grande do Sul," he said at an event in Brasilia, adding he wanted to make sure the state would get "everything it is entitled to".

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"We still don’t know the exact dimension of the floods, that will only be clear to us when the water levels return to normal," Lula said.

About 15,000 soldiers, firefighters, police and volunteers were reportedlyat work across the state to rescue those trapped and transport aid.

(With inputs from agencies)