RIO DE JANEIRO, May 5 (RIA Novosti) - Around 130,000 people have been affected by flash floods in the northern Brazilian state of Maranhao, the country's Civil Defense service said on Tuesday.
Local officials said at least 14 people had died in the floods and 70,000 people were left homeless, international media reported.
The region has been battered by heavy rains for more than four weeks. A state of emergency has been introduced in 29 cities and towns across the state.
Power cuts and a lack of fresh drinking water have been reported in the disaster zone. Two national highways have been partially flooded.
The Brazilian government has sent about 115 metric tons of food and 75,000 sets of clothes and bed sheets in humanitarian aid.
