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Rains in southern Brazil eliminate at least 39, some 70 still missing out on

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

Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense authority stated 68 people. were still missing out on and at least 24,000 had actually been displaced as the. storms impacted majority of the 497 cities in the state,. which borders Uruguay and Argentina.

These numbers can still materially alter over the. following days as we access to more regions, Rio Grande do. Sul Guv Eduardo Leite told reporters.

In numerous towns, streets essentially became rivers,. with roads and bridges ruined. The storm also triggered. landslides and the partial collapse of a dam structure at a. little hydroelectric power plant.

A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at danger. 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 obstructed gain access to. to the city's historical central communities.

The state is at a geographical conference point in between. tropical and polar atmospheres, which has developed a weather condition. pattern with periods of extreme rains and others of drought.

Local researchers think the pattern has actually been intensifying. due to environment change.

Heavy rains had currently hit Rio Grande do Sul last. September, as an extratropical cyclone triggered floods that killed. more than 50 individuals.

That came after more than 2 years of a consistent dry spell. due to the La Nina phenomenon, with just limited showers.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to the state on. Thursday to go to afflicted areas and go over rescue efforts. with the guv.

Back in Brasilia, Lula vowed on Friday that his federal government. would support local rescue and reconstruction efforts.