Flood-hit Brazil continues to suffer from rising river levels, and 149 people have been confirmed dead

Persistent rains and devastating floods continue to wreak havoc in Brazil, where officials say rising river levels indicate more damage in the Rio Grande do Sul region.

As of Tuesday, 149 people had been confirmed dead in the flood-hit southern state, and 124 people were still missing, according to the figures. Civil defense officials.

Officials said more than 600,000 people were displaced from their homes, and nearly 155,000 of those homes were destroyed.

In total, local agencies say 2.1 million people have been directly affected by the ongoing climate crisis in Rio Grande do Sul.

The Guayba River in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul state, could reach unprecedented levels of more than 18 feet in the next few days, according to local officials.

Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Monday that the federal government was preparing Direct financial assistance For families affected by floods.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that National Civil Defense resources for humanitarian aid and reconstruction of damaged buildings will be available to the region starting Tuesday.

“Starting today, mayors and the state government can register requests for schools, day care centers, health units, hospitals and equipment recovery. All you have to do is register and it will start immediately to serve the people,” President Silva said during a meeting. live feed.

Saturday, US President Joe Biden Issue a statement Regarding the ongoing crisis, he said: “The United States stands with Brazil in this difficult time.”

Biden said: “My administration is in contact with our Brazilian partners, and the United States is working to provide the necessary assistance to the Brazilian people, in coordination with the Brazilian authorities who are leading the response.”

Over the weekend, large parts of Rio Grande do Sul saw nearly 4 inches, according to INMET, National Institute of Meteorology.

The World Meteorological Organization attributes record rainfall in Brazil to El Niño, a phenomenon that warms the surface temperature of parts of the Pacific Ocean.

El Niño is the same climate pattern that affects weather patterns in the United States, often bringing above-average rainfall to parts of California and dry conditions in the Ohio Valley during the winter months, according to the US space agency’s report. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

ABC News’ Corey Skillman contributed to this report.