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Brazil storms kill 12, damage 156 towns
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-11 11:13

RIO DE JANEIRO: Twelve people have been killed and 156 towns damaged as storms continue to ravage Brazil's southern and southeastern region this week, local media reported on Thursday.

The southern state of Santa Catarina suffered the worst damage, where three towns were hit by tornados on Tuesday. A total of 68 municipalities reported damage; 88,800 people were affected by the storms, 18,000 of whom were left homeless.

In the small town of Guaraciaba, one of the most affected area, the tornado caused four deaths. About 90 percent of the town's 10,000 inhabitants were affected by the winds, forcing the local authorities to declare a state of calamity.

The state's government declared a state of emergency in other 64 storm-hit municipalities.

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The southeastern state of Sao Paulo has also suffered great loss with mudslides killing eight people, including five children. Over the past ten days, it rained more than the amount expected for the entire month of September in the state capital Sao Paulo.

The southern state of Parana was lashed by strong winds which gust up to over 100 km per hour. A total of 56 municipalities and over 2,800 houses were damaged in the state, but no casualties have been reported.

In Rio Grande do Sul state, on the southern border, rain and winds struck 32 towns, 8 of which declared a state of emergency. About 150,000 people were affected by the storms.

According to weather forecast, continued rain is expected in the southern region for the coming days. There is a chance of strong winds, but not as strong as those registered earlier this week.