Brazil's Bolsonaro creates $126 million credit line to flood-ravaged northeast

FILE PHOTO: Houses and a car are partially submerged in a flooded street, in Ilheus, Bahia state, Brazil December 30, 2021. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Friday a 700 million reais ($125.67 million) relief credit line to help the northeastern region with the impacts of severe flooding, a day after declining an offer of aid from Argentina.

At least 24 people have died and tens of thousands have been left homeless as record rains hit parts of the northeast, causing some dams to fail.

Bolsonaro's statement on Friday follows a Twitter post on Thursday in which he said Brazilian authorities were already providing the services offered by Argentina. His comments drew a quick rebuke from the governor of hard-hit Bahia state, who said local authorities would welcome help from any nation and that foreign countries should feel free to contact the state directly.

($1 = 5.5703 reais)

(Reporting by Carolina Mandl; editing by Grant McCool)