Floods Continue in Australia and Pick Up in Brazil, Sri Lanka
Earlier this week we reported on the heavy rains and flooding in
Queensland, Australia. Since then, the death toll has increased
to 16 people, and at least 50 people remain missing. And while
the heavy rains in much of the province have stopped — for the
time being, at least — and the level of the Brisbane River is
now on its way down after peaking about 15 feet above normal,
flood risk has shifted to the Victoria region of southern
Australia. Already, hundreds of people there have been evacuated
as several cities and towns anticipate flooding following a few
days of intense rain. But this week's news of heavy rains and
flooding is no longer limited to Australia. Flash floods and
landslides tore through an area north of Rio de Janeiro in
Brazil on Wednesday, triggered by intense rain that started on
Tuesday. Already, more than 500 deaths have been reported due to
the floods, but with continued rain hampering rescue efforts,
that number is expected