At least 110 people have died in flooding and subsequent landslides in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, the state news agency said Saturday. An estimated 80,000 have been evacuated from the area, in one of the worst weather-related catastrophes to hit the South American country in decades. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who freed up more than $850 million for reconstruction and support for the victims, said the disaster was the worst he had ever seen in the country, as he flew by helicopter over the towns that were devastated, state-run Agencia Brasil reported. Apart from displacing people, the rains and floods have destroyed roads, bridges and buildings. Santa Catarina has suffered severe economic losses - the closure of its port in Itajai city has led to a deficit of $33 million dollars a day, DPA quoted the state-run agency as saying. There has been an outpouring of support for the Santa Catarina victims, including donations from Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, former tennis world number one Gustavo Kuerten and several football teams. Two bank accounts opened by Santa Catarina state authorities to receive donations got $776.8 million from anonymous donors across the country.
