A devastating hurricane kills 11 and leaves 20 missing in southern Brazil

At least 11 people have died in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, after an extratropical typhoon hit the region on Friday, authorities said.

The state government said in a press statement that the storm caused heavy rains, and that helicopters were flying in the flooded areas in search of 20 people who were still missing.

The town of Kara, with a population of more than 8,000 people, was the hardest hit in the typhoon’s path.

“We are very concerned about the situation in Kara (town). It is essential that we be able to identify, in an organized manner, the main affected areas as well as the people who urgently need support,” said state governor Eduardo Leite, who visited the area.

Many residents in the affected areas took refuge in sports facilities in their cities to take cover, and the authorities issued a warning of the possibility of landslides in several areas.

The state governor said authorities had carried out 2,400 rescue operations in the past two days.

Fatal floods are common in Brazil, causing widespread destruction.