Brazil announces state of emergency in 96 flood-ravaged cities
14:22, 14 September 2011
RIO DE JANEIRO. September 14. KAZINFORM A state of emergency has been declared in 96 flood-hit cities in Brazil's southern Santa Catarina state, Brazil's Civil Defense Ministry said on Tuesday; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Triggered by days of torrential rains in the state, the local Itajai-Acu river has swollen to record levels and has affected almost 1 million people. As a result, 162,200 people were evacuated, more than 15,000 people displaced and three people killed, the ministry said.
In ten of the affected cities, a state of disaster has been declared and at least 28 others remain completely isolated by the floods, according to the ministry; Kazinform cites Xinhua.
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