Several dead after cyclone hits southern Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept 6 (EFE).- The death toll from an extratropical cyclone in southern Brazil rose to 28 after authorities reported six new victims Wednesday morning, with more expected to be found.

The six lifeless bodies were found in Roca Sales, a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, according to the Civil Defense.

Bordering Argentina and Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul is the region hardest hit, with a preliminary toll of 27 dead and about 5,000 evacuated, according to authorities.

The other death was reported in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, where a man was killed after a tree fell on the vehicle he was riding in.

According to the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, rescue efforts will now focus on the Rio Pardo valley, and it is not out of the question that new victims will be found.

“We regret every life lost and we are working to make every rescue possible in the affected regions. Thousands of people have already been rescued by our teams,” he said on social media.

Some 60 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul have been affected by strong gusts of wind and heavy rains, which have left entire communities isolated by flooding and rising rivers.

According to the Civil Defense, 15 of the 21 reported deaths occurred in Muçum, where the rains flooded much of the community and forced many residents to take refuge on the roofs of their homes.

This is the fourth extratropical cyclone to hit Rio Grande do Sul since last June, when another one caused 16 deaths and the evacuation of some 15,000 people.

The phenomenon was repeated in July, leaving one dead, 20 injured and about one million people without electricity. A third in August was also reported without major damage.EFE

mat/mcd