Heavy rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have tragically resulted in a death toll of 13, with 21 people reported missing and 5,257 displaced across 134 cities. The state government has declared a state of public calamity to address the dire situation.
The storms have caused unprecedented devastation in the region, marking one of the worst disasters in recent years. The city of Santa Maria, where three deaths have occurred, has been particularly hard hit.
