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Death toll from rains in southern Brazil reaches 29, Lula check outs area

The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul increased to 29, local authorities said on Thursday night, as the state government stated a state of public disaster to manage the significant situation.

The storms, which have actually triggered the greatest destruction in the state in the last few years, likewise left 60 individuals missing and 10,242 displaced in 154 cities, according to Rio Grande do Sul's. civil defense.

It's not simply another vital case; it's the most vital. that the state will probably have taped in its history,. state Governor Eduardo Leite said in a live broadcast on social. media, including that the scenario is worse than in 2015's rains. in the state.

More than 300,000 individuals have actually also been left without. electricity after a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant. burst on Thursday, the state's primary utilities company stated.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva flew over the affected. locations and consulted with Governor Leite in Santa Maria on Thursday for. an emergency meeting.

I informed the governor and my ministers that the federal. government will make every effort. ... We will take care of this. with fantastic care and regard, Lula said throughout the conference.

In a video posted on social networks, Leite required. coordination in the efforts to save individuals, requesting complete. force as he stated a state of public catastrophe pointing out the risk. dealt with by the state as an outcome of environment events.

Lula told Leite in a call late on Wednesday he would send as. many guys as essential to help deal with the circumstance, the. president's workplace said.

Brazil has faced a current spate of natural disasters. More than 50 individuals were killed in Sao Paulo state last year. after enormous rainstorms caused landslides and flooding.

(source: Reuters)