The cyclone that hit southern Brazil at the beginning of the week has caused the death of at least 31 people, according to the latest tally of local authorities who spoke of seven more deaths than yesterday.

Unfortunately we have 31 confirmed deaths at this time. However, given the situation, the toll could rise further,” said Rio Grande do Sul state governor Eduardo Leyte, who said the region was experiencing “the worst weather phenomenon in its history.”

More than 52,000 people from 67 cities in this state have been affected since Monday by torrential rains, which have caused floods and landslides. More than 4,000 residents were forced to leave their homes.

Hundreds of firefighters and police, as well as volunteers, are today involved in the rescue operations of people who remain isolated and opening access to some areas.

“We are implementing all the necessary measures to help Rio Grande do Sul to get out of this sad situation,” Regional Integration Minister Paulo Pimenda, who flew over the damaged areas with the Regional Integration and Development minister, wrote on Platform X Valdez Goez.

The federal government announced the dispatch of helicopters to bolster rescue missions.

Among the victims was a woman who was being transported by helicopter but fell into a river when the cable she was hanging from broke.

The city with the most casualties so far is Mussum, a town of 5,000 where 15 bodies were found on Tuesday and 85% of its land was covered when the Takwari River flooded.

Local authorities are warning that further disasters may occur in the region as more rain is expected on Thursday.

Brazil has been hit in recent years by deadly bad weather, whose connection to climate change is not ruled out by experts.

The effects are even more devastating in a context of uncontrolled urbanization and many poor populations living in precarious hillside housing.

At least 65 people died in February in floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in the state of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil.

Almost 9.5 million of Brazil’s 203 million people live in areas at risk of flooding or landslides.