Achi news desk-
The death toll from heavy rain in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to 39, with nearly 70 people still missing, the civil protection agency said on Friday.
The heavy rainfall is one of the worst climate tragedies in the country, and has so far affected 235 municipalities, including the capital of the state of Porto Alegre, according to the agency.
This is the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November last year, which killed 75 people in total, according to Guardian a report. The flooding has surpassed the infamous flood of 1941, according to the Brazilian Geological Service. In some cities, water levels were the highest since record keeping began almost 150 years ago Guardian the agency said.
Rio Grande do Sul has seen constant rainfall since 29 April, causing rivers to swell, destroying bridges, and putting the capital city of Porto Alegre, which has a population of more than 1.4 million, on alert. Xinhua a news agency reported.
Heavy rain also spread to the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, where one person was killed in the floods and landslides.
