More than a thousand people are missing following devastating floods in north-eastern Brazil, as authorities warn the death toll of 34 could rise dramatically.
Days of heavy rain, flooding and mudslides have left at least 150,000 homeless, with the impoverished states of Alagoas and Pernambuco the worst hit. States of emergency were declared across the region after dams and rivers burst, washing away bridges and highways and leaving entire areas navigable only by boat.
On Monday night Alagoas Governor Teotonio Vilela Filho voiced increasing fear for the missing as more bodies were discovered.
“We are praying for the missing to be found alive. But we are very worried because bodies are starting to turn up on beaches and on riverbanks,” Mr Vilela told reporters at a press briefing before a meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
He called for the nation’s help in the face of the destruction, adding: “We need a lot of solidarity and support.”
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In Alagoas, 22 were confirmed dead and 73,000 displaced, though authorities said the numbers of affected could more than double as the crisis unfolded.
In Pernambuco, where authorities confirmed the deaths of 12 people, the inundation caused the Buen Consejo (Good Advice) dam and the River Mundau to overflow, submerging houses beneath the raging waters as residents were flown out by helicopter. The Civil Defence said 26,000 homes were destroyed and around 58,000 had to be evacuated.
Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva announced he was sending the army to deliver aid to the worst-hit areas, and promised to act with “speed” to bring relief to those affected.
An emergency relief fund of $150 million (£100m) has been allocated to the region and the government said it had already distributed 20,000 food baskets, blankets and mattresses to those who had lost their homes.
Mr Vilela said the region was in urgent need of supplies of drinking water, food and warm clothing. A request for funds to rebuild homes and roads would be submitted to Brasilia next week, he added.
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The Minister of Institutional Relations, Alexandre Padilha, said an emergency cabinet meeting would be convened tomorrow (Tuesday) to evaluate damage and aid requirements, according to the official Agencia Brasil news agency.
The same area suffered the deaths of 44 people when it was battered by storms in May last year. Then, some 380,000 people had to be evacuated.
In April over 200 people died when mudslides buried whole streets in a poor favela outside Rio de Janeiro, following days of torrential downpours.