São Paulo: Dozens killed as deadly storms hit Brazilian coast

In Brazil's So Paulo state, officials report that landslides and flooding have killed at least 36 people.

Rescue workers say they hope to bring some of the individuals stuck in flooded homes out of the muck alive even though there are dozens of people missing and a predicted increase in the number of fatalities.

Footage displayed submerged neighborhoods, flooded highways, and debris left behind as homes were swept away.

In a number of cities, the carnival has been canceled.

At the coastal town of So Sebastio, 627mm of rain fell in a single day, more than double the monthly average.

Felipe August, the mayor of the town, described the situation as chaotic: "The extent of the devastation is still unknown to us. We're working to save the people."

Mr. Augusto continued, stating that the situation was still "very grave," claiming that some 50 houses had collapsed and been washed away.

At least 35 fatalities were recorded by the state administration in So Sebastio, while a seven-year-old girl was murdered in Ubatuba, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the northeast, when a two-ton boulder struck her home.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated and displaced.

Sadly, there will be a lot more fatalities, a civil defense officer told the newspaper Folha de São Paulo.

State Governor Tarcsio de Freitas declared that he has made funding for disaster relief of $1.5 million (£1.2 million) available.

Carnival activities were postponed along areas of the coastline, a favourite vacation spot for wealthy travelers trying to avoid the massive street festivals in the major towns.

In the lead-up to the Christian festival of Lent, the event typically lasts for five days, and the vibrant celebrations are emblematic of Brazil.

Santos, the biggest port in Latin America, was also closed due to winds that were above 55 km/h (34 mph) and waves that were over 1 m high, according to local media.

The damaged districts will be visited later on Monday by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was spending the weekend of the carnival in the state of Bahia in the northeast.

He expressed his sorrow to those who had lost loved ones in a tweet and pledged to coordinate with law enforcement to send out medical teams and rescue crews.

In his letter, President Lula promised to "bring all levels of government together and, with the solidarity of society, treat the wounded, hunt for the missing, restore roadways, electricity lines, and telecommunications in the area."

Threatening to worsen the situation for rescue teams, further heavy rain is predicted in the area.

As the effects of climate change set in, extreme weather phenomena like the floods are anticipated to grow more frequent.

More than 230 people were killed by severe rain in the southeast city of Petropolis last year.