“This first moment, from Thursday night until now, is most commonly to protect human lives and rescue people,” Leite said at a news conference Saturday with other authorities.
Two ministers from the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stopped in the state to exhibit and organize investments for Rio Grande do Sul and municipalities in critical situation. They will also stop in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, also affected by flooding.
Firefighters carried out 2,400 rescues in the 35 localities of Rio Grande do Sul affected by the tropical storm.
FRIENDS HONOR A DECEASED LOVED ONE BY LETTING HIM SCORE A FINAL GOAL IN SILLAGE
A violent typhoon in southern Brazil left 8 dead and 19 missing.
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Several routes remained blocked in Rio Grande do Sul, flights to the state’s main cities were canceled Friday and power was cut in the state.
According to Leite, state officials are examining broken roads and bridges to see if they can be restored in the hardest-hit areas.
Mayors of the affected towns said twice as much rain had fallen in 24 hours than was expected for the June total.
The mayor of Maquine said on his social networks that rainfall in his town exceeded about 11 centimeters in one day.
Experts said the typhoon was an extratropical cyclone, a type of weather formula that occurs at its peak in mid- and high-latitudes rather than the tropics.