JAKARTA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked Congress on Monday to declare a national state of emergency, following heavy rains that have killed at least 85 people in Rio Grande do Sul State.
Flooding has destroyed roads and bridges in several cities triggering landslides and leaving a trail of destruction.
More than 130 people remained missing after floodwaters hit more than two-thirds of the state's nearly 500 towns, displacing some 150,000 people, Rio Grande do Sul State civil defense authorities said.
"We don't have an estimate yet about what will be needed," said Planning Minister Simone Tebet, reported by Reuters, May 7.
"Only after the water recedes will we see how much damage has been done to the state," he added.
President Lula's move to ask Congress to declare a public disaster in the state would authorize extra government spending without having to comply with spending limits set by fiscal rules approved last year.
Spending and tax breaks related to the country's recovery will also not be counted in the government's fiscal results under the measure.
Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite stressed that the death toll could still increase substantially as more rescue workers gain access to more areas.
Meanwhile, a resident of the small town of Canoas, Flavio Rosa (72) said this was the first time he had seen damage of this magnitude in Rio Grande do Sul caused by rain, which is a common annual occurrence in this part of Brazil.
"I've seen other floods, but nothing like this," Rosa said.
Weather conditions improved on Monday, but rain is expected to return at lower volumes this week and could increase again between May 10 and 15, according to local weather forecaster MetSul Meteorologia.
"The hydrological and meteorological scenarios are completely unfavorable in the short and medium term," he said.
"Despite improvements in some parts of the state, some areas will remain in severe conditions for a very long time," he continued.
As a result of this incident, the business sector was badly hit. Meatpackers association ABPA said 10 pork or poultry plants had been completely or partially shut down.
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Meanwhile, oil regulator ANP temporarily lowered the mandate for blending biofuels into petrol and diesel in the state, as local ethanol and biodiesel supplies were affected.
The transport sector was also affected, with Salgado Filho International Airport in the state capital Porto Alegre, one of Brazil's busiest airports, suspending operations indefinitely, operator Fraport said.
Train operator Rumo said train services in the state were partially disrupted due to extreme weather and damage to assets was "still being precisely assessed."
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