According to authorities, at least 22 people died in southern Brazil when a cyclone passed through. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul alone, there were 21 deaths – more than ever in a climate event there, said yesterday the governor of the extreme south of the country, Eduardo Leite. Another person died in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina.
The cyclone caused heavy rain in southern Brazil, which caused flooding and landslides. In total, more than 25,000 people in around 60 cities were directly affected by the storm, as the head of national disaster management, Wolnei Barreiros, told GloboNews television station. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered help from federal authorities. A cyclone had already hit Rio Grande do Sul in June. 16 people were killed at that time.
Brazil has been repeatedly hit by weather disasters in recent years, which experts believe are being worsened by climate change. In February, at least 65 people died in the southeastern state of São Paulo after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides.