The Acre River in Brazil is overflowing its banks forcing

The Acre River in Brazil is overflowing its banks, forcing 12,000 families from their homes due to torrential rains and devastating landslides

At least 12,000 families have been displaced from their homes after torrential rain caused rivers and streams to overflow, the Brazilian state of Acre said.

The government said on Tuesday that a state of emergency remained in place in 17 of the state's 22 municipalities due to the devastating rains.

Jordão was the hardest hit by flooding, with 80 percent of the population forced to seek shelter – while heavy rains continued to inundate the surrounding area.

At least 23 indigenous communities in Acre's interior were also affected by flooding, inundating homes and businesses.

Dozens of people have already been confirmed dead in parts of Brazil following the devastating rains in February – and tragically the number is expected to rise.

Epitaciolândia is one of 17 towns in Brazil's northwestern state of Acre under a state of emergency after heavy rains caused rivers and streams to overflow.  The government said on Tuesday that more than 11,500 people were still displaced from their homes

Epitaciolândia is one of 17 towns in Brazil's northwestern state of Acre under a state of emergency after heavy rains caused rivers and streams to overflow. The government said on Tuesday that more than 11,500 people were still displaced from their homes

A church was partially submerged after heavy rains flooded the banks of the Acre River in Brasileia, Brazil, on Sunday

A church was partially submerged after heavy rains flooded the banks of the Acre River in Brasileia, Brazil, on Sunday

The state Department of Health's office was flooded after the Acre River burst its banks in Acre, the capital of the Brazilian state of Acre

The state Department of Health's office was flooded after the Acre River burst its banks in Acre, the capital of the Brazilian state of Acre

A 20-year-old man named Elias Lima was reported missing after he was swept away in a stream while swimming with friends as rain drenched the city of Rio Branco on Sunday.

Authorities launched a search Monday and Lima was still missing Tuesday evening.

Flooding in the city of Brasiléia, more than 124 miles west of Rio Branco, the state capital, is causing the Acre River's water level to rise to 49.5 feet by midday Tuesday.

The water flowed over the Jose Augusto metal bridge and dumped trash over it. The bridge that connects Brasiléia with the city of Epitaciolândia has been closed to traffic since Sunday.

The José Augusto Metal Bridge also connects Brasiléia with Assis Brasil, a border town opposite Peru.

On Sunday, several young men were seen swimming in a stream in Rio Branco before a 20-year-old identified as Elias Lima was swept away by a current.  He remained missing since Tuesday

On Sunday, several young men were seen swimming in a stream in Rio Branco before a 20-year-old identified as Elias Lima was swept away by a current. He remained missing since Tuesday

Due to the road closures, authorities had to transport 30 patients in canoes from Epitaciolândia and Xapuri to Brasiléia on Monday to ensure they received their scheduled dialysis treatments on Monday.

The flooding in Acre came after the southern Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro flooded several cities after the area was hit by heavy rain between Wednesday and Thursday.

A 29-year-old man who dreams of one day becoming a firefighter prevented three more from happening when he rescued a woman and her one-year-old twin daughters who were trapped in their family car just before the vehicle was washed away.

Residents of the municipality of Paracambi staged a demonstration in front of the town hall on Sunday, protesting against the local government's slow response to clear debris from the streets.

This follows news that at least 40 people have died after floods and landslides hit Sao Paulo's northern coast last weekend.

The São Paulo state government reported that 39 residents, including a nine-month-old baby, were killed in the municipality of Sao Sebastião.

A seven-year-old girl was found dead under a rock in her home in the nearby town of Ubatuba.

According to the São Paulo state government, the storm displaced 1,730 residents and left 766 homeless between Saturday and Sunday.

Rescue teams searched around the clock on Monday for at least 36 residents reported missing in the towns of Barra do Sahy and Juquehy.