Death toll rises to 56 from southern Brazil's heavy rains

SAO PAULO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to 56, with 67 missing, 32,900 evacuated and at least 356,000 without electricity, the Civil Defense agency said Saturday.

Heavy rains in the state for nearly a week have so far affected 281 municipalities, causing rivers to overflow and putting Porto Alegre, the state capital, almost under