Yahoo TV

STORY: According to Eduardo Leite, Rio Grande do Sul Governor, despite all the rescue efforts in the region the number of deaths has risen to 21 in the state, making the disaster, he said "the one with the highest number of deaths related to a climate event in the state of Rio Grande do Sul."

An additional victim was confirmed in the neighboring state of Santa Catarina, according to local authorities.

Video obtained by Reuters showed houses in Mucum submerged by rising water, while streets and rivers were also flooded.

"I feel devastated. I lost everything," said Dice Reginatto, from the city of Nova Bassano in Rio Grande do Sul. "There are many people who lost much more, but here at home I have nothing left."

Dozens of homes had their roofs damaged by a hailstorm and hundreds of people are without contact in Rio Grande do Sul.

Brazil's federal government has announced some measures to respond to the disaster, and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised his government would do whatever is necessary to "save people from these problems."