In Brazil, heavy rains in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul have killed 37 people and another 74 are missing. The record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes. More than 23,000 people had to leave their homes due to the worst floods in 80 years. It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November that killed 75 people in total. The flooding statewide has surpassed that seen during a historic 1941 deluge. In some cities, water levels were at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago.
On Thursday, a dam at a hydroelectric plant between the cities of Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed and entire cities in the Taquari River valley, such as Lajeado and Estrela, were completely overtaken by water. In the town of Feliz, 80 km from the state capital, Porto Alegre, a massively swollen river swept away a bridge that connected it with the neighbouring city of Linha Nova.
