Brazil: death toll surpasses 100 as rain interrupts rescue effort after flooding

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00In the flooded streets of Eldorado do Sul, this wheeled loader driver has put all his

00:06energy into rescuing survivors like himself.

00:10He uses heavy machinery to save community members and their belongings, ferrying them

00:15in the bucket of his loader.

00:18It's repetitive ant-like work, days, nights, at dawn.

00:22There's no schedule.

00:24We take people away while others are returning.

00:27It's back and forth.

00:29It's this continuous routine of doing things and looking for people.

00:33We don't stop.

00:34We're very driven.

00:39Some 400 municipalities have been affected by the worst natural calamity ever to hit

00:44the southern Brazilian state, with more than 160,000 people forced from their homes.

00:50Many have no access to drinking water or electricity, or even the means to call for help, with telephone

00:56and internet services down in many places.

01:00Some 15,000 soldiers, firefighters, police and volunteers have been deployed on boats

01:07and jet skis to rescue those trapped and transport aid.

01:11This family found shelter on an overpass with a few belongings they saved from their destroyed

01:16house.

01:17I don't sleep.

01:21I stay awake all night because this bridge sways.

01:24It sways all the time because of the trucks that pass by.

01:28And I'm scared that it will fall.

01:30I'm also afraid that the water may reach us here.

01:36Rain in southern Brazil is forecast to let up on Thursday, but will recommence and continue

01:42through the weekend.

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