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In addition, over 30,000 people have lost their homes or had to abandon them amid fears of likely collapses, according to newly updated figures.Brazil's rainy season has been particularly severe this year, with flooding also swamping southern Santa Catarina state and Sao Paulo, the economic hub that record its rainiest January in 60 years.
Rousseff, who was sworn as Brazil's president on January 1, said officials were also exploring whether the government will reorganize its Civil Defense forces to allow a better disaster response.