Dozens dead as southern Brazil hit by worst floods in 80 years

Firefighters and volunteers pull in a boat transporting people rescued from flooding in Brazil ion (Carlos Macedo/AP)

Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defence agency said on Friday, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes.

It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total.