78 dead due to heavy floods in Brazil

The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78. In a report, news agency reuters said this on Monday (May 6).

According to the authority, the death toll could still substantially increase as 105 people were reported missing on Sunday, up from about 70 the prior day.

Flooding from storms in the past few days has affected more than two thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina, leaving more than 115,000 people displaced.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday morning with most members of his cabinet to discuss rescue and reconstruction efforts with local authorities.