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Heavy rainfall has devastated Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, resulting in the tragic loss of 39 lives, as confirmed by local authorities on Friday.
Regrettably, the casualty count is anticipated to rise further as dozens are still unaccounted for.
Reports from Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense authority indicate that 68 individuals remain missing, while over 24,000 residents have been compelled to flee their homes due to the relentless storms.
The impact of the severe weather has been extensive, affecting more than half of the state's 497 municipalities, which shares borders with Uruguay and Argentina.
Moreover, numerous towns find themselves submerged under floodwaters, with streets transformed into waterways, and roads and bridges swept away by the deluge.
The storm's onslaught triggered landslides and inflicted damage on a section of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant.
Adding to the crisis, a dam in Bento Goncalves is on the brink of collapse, necessitating authorities to issue evacuation orders for nearby residents.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has described the catastrophe as one of the most severe floods in the nation's history.