Cyclone batters southern Brazil, death toll from floods hits 36

A resident cleans up a flooded area after an extratropical cyclone hit southern towns, in Mucum, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Diego Vara

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -The death toll from heavy rains in southern Brazil rose to 36, local authorities said on Wednesday, as a tropical cyclone battered and soaked the region, flooding homes and swelling rivers.

Video obtained by Reuters showed rising water flooding streets and rivers and submerging houses in the small town of Mucum, in Rio Grande do Sul state. Nearby cities such as Lajeado and Roca Sales were also hit severely.