Death toll from floods in Brazil continues to rise

The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state has climbed to 136, local civil defence said on Saturday, up from 126, while another 125 people remain unaccounted for.

Storms and floods battering the South American country's southernmost state, home to some 10.9 million people, have also left almost 340,000 displaced, according to the local civil defence.

Heavy rains have caused several rivers and lakes in the region to hit their highest levels ever. At the same time, floods blocked streets and disrupted logistics, triggering a shortage of essential goods in certain areas.

In their latest update on Friday evening, the civil defence said that almost two million people have been affected so far.