Warning of 'very high' possibility of more in Pernambuco

Brazil flood death toll rises to 106

• Water floods the city of Pernambuco.

  Reuters

• Two men standing in front of a house destroyed by flood waters.

  Reuters

• The confusion appears on the faces of the residents after they saved what they could save from the furniture of their flooded homes.

  Reuters

• An aerial view of a flooded city.

  Reuters

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The Brazilian government said last night that at least 106 people have died and 10 are still missing, with torrential rains in the northeast of the country for the sixth consecutive day.

The governor of the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Paulo Camara, said in an interview with local media that the government's priority is to find the missing amid mudslides and massive floods.

The National Civil Defense said on Twitter that a warning of "extremely high" possibility of more flooding had been issued in Pernambuco, including its capital, Recife.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the state on Tuesday and inspected the affected areas, promising to send aid to the affected families.

This is the fourth major flood to hit the country in five months, highlighting poor planning in low-income neighborhoods in much of Brazil, where shantytowns are often built on collapsing hillsides.

In late December and early January, dozens of people were killed and tens of thousands homeless when heavy rains fell in Bahia state, also in northeastern Brazil.

At least 18 others died in floods in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo later in January, while torrential rains in Rio de Janeiro state killed more than 230 people the following month.

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