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The death toll in the storms that hit Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state this week has reached 444, local authorities said on Thursday evening, adding that this is the biggest natural disaster in the state's history.
There were 201 people killed in the small town of Nova Friburgo. A total of 185 deaths were registered in the nearby Teresopolis, 39 in Petropolis and 19 in Sumidouro.
With many neighborhoods and even entire municipalities losing external links due to blocked roads and mudslides, the death toll is still expected to rise significantly, said the authorities.
Some 13,000 people had to leave their homes and 6,000 of them were taken to makeshift shelters in schools and sports gyms. Several areas still do not have electricity, which makes it harder for firemen to carry out the rescue work at night. Water and telephone services have not been reestablished either.
Earlier on Thursday, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral visited the devastated region. The president promised help to the affected towns.
Rousseff stressed that under the current circumstances, local, state and federal governments should make joint efforts for the reconstruction.
XINHUA
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