Flooding has killed 10 people in southern Brazil's Parana state by Wednesday, and state officials declared an emergency in 130 cities, including World Cup host Curitiba and popular tourist attraction Iguazu Falls. Heavy rain began Saturday in the state bordering Paraguay and Argentina, but the sun was shining in most regions by Wednesday, according to local meteorologists. However, a cold front likely will bring more rain to much of the state beginning Friday afternoon, forecasters said, adding it was too early to know if the first football match scheduled at Curitiba will be affected Monday. The World Cup is happening in an unusual weather year for Brazil. Severe heat and drought during the usual rainy season in January and February drained hydro-electric reservoirs and damaged crops, and the county may see intense, unusual rainfall during the typical dry-season months of July and August due to the El Nino phenomenon in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
