Rio de Janeiro/Florianopolis, Brazil - The deaths of at least 97 people and the evacuations of close to 80,000 have not been the only tragic consequences of heavy rain in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.

In the wake of the natural catastrophe, residents were Thursday living in fear of epidemics and looting, with huge queues to get water and food.

The streets of the worst-affected towns became the stage for chaos. In the town of Itajai, where 80 per cent of the homes were damaged by the rain, at least 24 people were arrested following looting at a supermarket.

Rio de Janei

Rio de Janeiro  - The use of the internet to spread child pornography and to find victims for the sex trade pose new challenges for governments, the head of UNICEF said at a global conference on child sexual exploitation.

"Parents and children must prepare themselves better for the risks of the internet," Ann Veneman, UNICEF executive director, said Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is to free up 538 million dollars for reconstruction and support for the victims of heavy rains in the southern state of Santa Catarina, which left at least 86 people dead and more 54,000 evacuees.

Following a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Rio de Janeiro, Lula cancelled all appointments on his schedule for Wednesday and travelled to Santa Catarina.

He flew over the towns that were devastated by the rain, which was affecting more than 1.5 million people in the state.

According to state Civil Defence officials, the number of dead could rise to more than 100, since at least 30 people remained missing.

Rio de Janeiro - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, to debate ways to increase cooperation and mutual investment between the countries.

Brazilian governmental advisors said that the talks were also set to include the international financial crisis, which is already having negative effects on both countries, though Medvedev said both Russia and Brazil are in a position to get over it.

"We are leaders in economic growth. No obstacle can prevent that setting. Brazil and Russia will get over the crisis," Medvedev said.

Rio de Janeiro  - At least 84 people have died in flooding and landslides in a southern Brazilian state since the weekend in one of the worst weather-related catastrophes to hit the South American country in decades, authorities said.

The death toll in Santa Catarina state could rise substantially because a large number of people were missing, a civil defence spokesman said Tuesday.

A total of 1.5 million people were affected by the flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains, and more than 54,000 people were forced to flee their homes, media reports said.

Four cities have been declared disaster zones and eight municipalities had been cut off from the outside world as floodwaters inundated roads, state authorities said.