LIVE UPDATES
Tragic disaster hit Southern Brazil as a hydroelectric dam collapsed following days of heavy downpour, triggering widespread flood that claimed the lives of over 30 people.
In Rio Grande do Sul state, an additional 60 individuals are reported missing, adding to the devastation wrought by the calamity.
Since Saturday, approximately 15,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in the face of rising floodwaters. The catastrophe has left at least 500,000 people grappling with the dual challenges of power outages and contaminated water supplies across the state.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has personally toured the affected region, offering assurances of assistance from the federal government.
State Governor Eduardo Leite has urgently appealed for aid, emphasising the pressing need to rescue hundreds of stranded individuals across numerous municipalities.
Meteorologists have warned of further rainfall as a cold front sweeps through the region, prolonging the ordeal for beleaguered communities.
