Brazil flooding death toll rises to 20

The death toll from last weekend's flash flooding in the southern Brazilian town of Itaoca has risen to 20, with six people still missing, authorities said .

Sao Paulo state's Civil Defence Department updated the earlier toll of 12 dead.

Some 332 people - or about 10 per cent of the town's population - were left homeless by overflowing waters from the Palmital River following torrential downpours.

Four people were injured and some 100 homes damaged.

A bridge providing access to Itaoca, located 340 kilometres southwest of Sao Paulo, was also destroyed and state authorities yesterday pledged to rebuild it.