President sends condolences to Brazil's Lula over floods

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday offered condolences to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva over deadly heavy rains and floods in southern Brazil.

In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the disastrous heavy rains and floods in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and other places, which have caused heavy casualties and property losses.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned deeply for the victims, conveyed sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the people in the disaster-hit areas, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Chinese president also expressed his belief that the disaster-hit areas are surely to overcome difficulties and rebuild their homeland.

The disaster left at least 42 dead and affected some 150,000 people, Agence France-Presse reported. Many of the affected lost their homes or faced isolation from landslides that washed away roads and bridges.

The heavy rains and strong winds that hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul last week tore away stone slabs weighing several tons and opened up tombs, some of which were flooded with mud.

Mucum was hit harder by floods and landslides than any other municipality in Rio Grande do Sul. Authorities lifted the death toll to 42 people on Saturday night and said 46 remain missing.

Amid a search for the missing, access to the city was restricted. Of the 46 people still missing, 30 were from Mucum.

Lula, in India for the G20 summit, told world leaders on Saturday the planet was facing an "unprecedented climate emergency".

"The lack of commitment to the environment has led us to an unprecedented climate emergency," said Lula at the two-day meeting in New Delhi. "Droughts, floods, storms and fires are becoming more frequent."

The disaster, which affected 88 localities in Rio Grande do Sul, caused economic losses of more than $260 million, according to the National Confederation of Municipalities.

Xinhua - Agencies