Death toll of storms in Brazil's Rio rises to 247

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 13, 2010 -- Heavy storms in Brazil last week has led to the death of 247 residents of Rio de Janeiro' s metro area, according to a report released Tuesday by the Rio's Firefighters Department.

Most of victims of massive mudslides were in the so-called favelas (shantytowns) located on hills. Most of the deaths, 162, were registered in Niteroi, a town across the bay from Rio, which is part of the city's metro region.

Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Tuesday the engineering effort to prevent massive mudslides in town will require 200 million to 250 million reais (114 million to 143 million U.S. dollars).

The sum does not include the construction of housing for people who are being removed from these risky areas.

On Sunday, Rio de Janeiro state governor Sergio Cabral announced that the construction will demand 1 billion reais (571 million U.S. dollars).

On Sunday, officials started to level houses in risky areas in eight favelas. Residents will initially receive a monthly stipend of 400 reais (228 U.S. dollars) to cover renting costs. They will eventually be settled in housing projects that will be constructed in the town's neighborhoods of Catumbi and Triagem.