WORLD> America
Death toll reaches 125 in southern Brazil floods
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-12 11:05

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Two weeks after one of the worst floods in Brazil's history, the death toll in the country's southern state of Santa Catarina has reached 125 and is still rising, local Civil Defense reported Thursday.

Nearly 30 people are missing in the state, while over 33,000 are left homeless, with 6,000 of them still living in churches or schools.

Related readings:
 Brazil rescuers resume search for flood victims
 Brazil flood victims loot stores, death toll at 97
In the affected area, over 40 cases of leptospirosis have been confirmed, while 260 suspected cases reported, according to the state government.

Leptospirosis is a infectious disease transmitted by contacts with water, soil or food contaminated by infected animals' urine, usually the rats, and can lead to jaundice, meningitis, hemorrhage and renal failure.

The floods affected a total of 1.5 million people, almost a quarter of the state's population. The international port of Itajai in the state will need six months and an estimated 350 million reais ($145 million) to be fully restored.

The natural gas pipeline that links Brazil and Bolivia was also damaged by the floods. The repairs finished Tuesday, and the gas supply to south Santa Catarina and neighboring area was restored.

On Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit the area. Donations in cash from the Brazilian people to the area has reportedly surpassed 16 million reais ($6.7 million).