Heavy rain in north-east Brazil claims 100 lives

The death toll from the landslides and floods caused by heavy rains rose to 100 on Tuesday in the metropolitan region of Recife, the capital of northeastern Pernambuco state of Brazil, officials said.

Hundreds of others have been displaced, state governor Paulo Camara said at a press conference.

Search and rescue efforts for missing persons, previously reported as 16, continued with the participation of 436 professionals in Vila dos Milagres, Jardim Monteverde, Curado IV, Areeiro, Jaboatao Centro and Paratibe regions.

Camara added that 100 million Brazilian reals ($21 million) have been allocated for search and rescue efforts as well as for the infrastructure work.

Due to the heavy rains in the Pernambuco state of Brazil, an emergency has been declared in 14 provinces since May 23.

Officials had announced that nearly 4,000 people have been evacuated from the danger zones.

In an earlier Twitter post, the government said: "The Government of Brazil is monitoring the situation of Pernambuco and other states affected by heavy rains and floods in the Northeast region of the country. Technical aid was sent to the affected cities to provide the needed assistance to local authorities."