At least 33 people have been killed and another 20,000 displaced from their homes in southern Brazil following floods triggered by torrential rains.

A state of emergency has been declared and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president, has offered federal help to rescue those left stranded by the floods in Brazil's Santa Catarina state.

"The big challenge on Monday will be supplying the shelters with medicines and food," Blumenau Mayor Joao Paulo Kleinubing, an official from the Civil Defence Agency (CDA), said.

Rescue teams have been using helicopters and motorboats to rescue those left stranded by the floods, which caused mudslides that engulfed several homes and isolated four municipalities.

Landslides

Heavy rainfall over the last two months has led to landslides which have destroyed homes and blocked roads. Weather forecasters say more rain is expected for the region.

In the Santa Catarina state more than 20,000 people have been forced from their homes and up to four towns have been totally cut off.

Neighbouring states are sending equipment and rescue workers to Santa Catarina.

In total more than a million people are said to have been affected by the flooding.

Heavy rain and flooding in Brazil have been known to lead to high death tolls in the past partly because homes are often constructed in dangerous locations that are at high risk and vulnerable to landslides.

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