Brazil floods: Death toll hits 113, many missing

The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has climbed to 113 as major floods engulfed entire cities in the southernmost state part of the country last week, local civil defence said on Friday.

Storms and floods battering the South American country’s southernmost state, home to some 10.9 million people, have also left more than 337,000 displaced. Heavy rains and flooding in Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left hundreds of people missing, authorities said, adding that more than 230,000 displaced and much of the region isolated by the floodwaters.

The floods have also impacted water and electricity services, with more than 1.4 million affected overall, according to Civil Defense.

Almost half a million people were without power in Porto Alegre and outlying towns as electricity companies cut off supplies for security reasons in flooded neighborhoods. National grid operator ONS said five hydroelectric dams and transmission lines were shut down due to the heavy rains.

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The city’s airport, its apron under water, has suspended all flights since Friday. Authorities said that there was no official tally for the number of animals that died or  made homeless. Local media estimated the number to be in the thousands.

Fuel shortages were reported as state-run oil company Petrobras said it was having trouble moving diesel from its refinery in badly-flooded Canoas within metropolitan Porto Alegre, a senior government official said.

With inputs from agencies.