At least 72 dead in heavy rains in Brazil

The number of people killed in accidents
linked to heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Santa
Catarina rose to 72 Tuesday, while several of the 30 towns affected
by the disaster were starting to experience looting and sharp rises
in food prices, DPA reported.
According to the latest report by Civil Defense authorities, close
to 54,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes and 137,000
homes had no power.
According to state authorities, four cities had declared a state
of catastrophe and eight municipalities had been cut off from the
outside world.