Cyclone leaves at least 21 dead in southern Brazil: governor

Torrential rain and winds caused by an extratropical cyclone have left at least 21 people dead in southern Brazil, officials said Tuesday, warning more flooding may be coming.

The latest in a string of weather disasters to hit Brazil, it is the deadliest ever in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Close to 6,000 people were forced from their homes by the storms, which started Monday, dumping hail and more than nearly 12 inches of rain on the state in less than 24 hours and triggering floods and landslides.

The storms hit 67 municipalities in all, affecting more than 52,000 people. Hundreds of firefighters as well as military police and civil defense personnel were dispatched as part of rescue operations, with helicopters sent to reach areas cut off by flooding.