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Brazil: Heavy Rains Kill 21 in Minas Gerais
Sao Paulo, Dec 28 (Prensa Latina) The death toll from floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais rose to 21, the Civil Defense confirmed on Saturday.
A report from that governmental organization stated that three people were found dead in recent hours, two drowned in the city of Virgolandia, flooded almost completely, and a 17-year-old man was crushed by a fallen tree during a storm in the town of Buritizeiro.
Another citizen is still missing in Virgolandia, and according to the Civil Defense, the number of municipalities affected by the rains lashing southeastern Brazil for 12 days rose from 51 to 84.
So far, some 7,000 of more than 10,000 people affected by the rains, have taken refuge with relatives and friends, while 116 homes were destroyed and 7,099 were partially damage.
During a tour of Gobernador Valadares municipality, in northeastern Minas Gerais, on Friday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was impressed by the magnitude of the disaster caused by the overflowing of the Doce River, the extense flooded areas and landslides.
Rousseff announced a shipment of more humanitarian aid, especially drinking water, food, blankets and mattresses, and urged the troops from the Army and the Civil Defence to act swiftly to prevent more deaths.
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