At least 86 dead and 134 missing after floods in Brazil

Flooding caused by heavy rains in southern Brazil has claimed the lives of at least 86 people, while 134 are missing, according to the latest toll released by regional authorities.

The new death toll adds two dead and 23 missing to the previous list of victims of the catastrophe, which has seriously affected a large part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, bordering Argentina and Uruguay.

Authorities are investigating the causes of four other deaths to determine whether they are related to the rains that have been affecting southern Brazil for a week.

The worst-affected region is Rio Grande do Sul, where 85 of the 86 deaths have been recorded, and the other death occurred in the neighbouring state of Santa Catarina.

The rains, which are just beginning to decrease in that part of the country following a week without respite, affected more than 1.1 million inhabitants of 385 municipalities, who suffer from a lack of food, medicine and basic services such as electricity and water.

153,824 people have had to leave their homes

According to data from the local Civil Defense, 153,824 people have been forced to abandon their homes and move to stay with relatives and friends, while another 47,676 are housed in makeshift shelters set up by the authorities.

The Guaíba River has flooded the historic centre of Porto Alegre, the regional capital, and several cities in the metropolitan area, but flooding and landslides have caused extensive damage in numerous towns in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul.

With a population of 11 million inhabitants, Rio Grande do Sul has a total of 496 municipalities, of which 385 have been affected.

At least 1.2 million homes and businesses remain without electricity and 98 municipalities lack telephone and internet services. And 47 roads were reported to be totally or partially blocked due to rising rivers and landslides.

There are currently more than 14,500 rescue workers from various states and military personnel working to help victims.

Weather forecasts predict further rain in areas already hit by storms due to a new cold front that will cause heavy rainfall in the coming days in the extreme south of the country.

*With information from EFE*