RIO DE JANEIRO: The death toll from severe flooding in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state has surged to 136, according to local civil defense authorities. This figure marks an increase from the previous day’s count of 126, with an additional 125 people still missing.
The South American country’s southernmost state, with a population of around 10.9 million, has been ravaged by storms and floods, leaving nearly 340,000 people displaced, as reported by the local civil defense.
In Afghanistan, the northern province of Baghlan has also experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in the deaths of 50 individuals, according to the Interior Ministry. Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qaniee cautioned that the death toll could rise as the situation unfolds.
Read More: 50 lives lost in Afghanistan’s Baghlan floods
The floods, affecting multiple districts, have left families stranded and in urgent need of assistance, Qaniee stated. He also highlighted that two heavy storms were predicted for Friday night.
Despite efforts by the Ministry to respond swiftly, challenges persist due to a lack of night vision lights for helicopters involved in rescue operations, Qaniee noted.
These recent disasters come shortly after another devastating incident in Afghanistan last month, where approximately 70 lives were lost due to relentless rains. Janan Sayeq, spokesperson for the government’s disaster management department, revealed the toll, citing injuries sustained by 56 individuals and widespread destruction of property and farmlands.
