Rio de Janeiro  - At least 110 people have died in flooding and subsequent landslides in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, the state news agency said Saturday.

An estimated 80,000 have been evacuated from the area, in one of the worst weather-related catastrophes to hit the South American country in decades.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who freed up more than 850 million dollars for reconstruction and support for the victims, said the disaster was the worst he had ever seen in the country, as he flew by helicopter over the towns that were devastated, state-run Agencia Brasil reported.

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  - Brazilian football superstar Ronaldo said he wants to make his comeback from injury at his hometown club Flamengo Rio de Janeiro next year.

"If everything works out, I'd like to play there," the 32-year-old who has been on the bench for more than eight months said Monday night on the sports talk show Bem Amigos on Brazilian television.

"Flamengo is in pole position," said Ronaldo, who added that he has also received interest from European clubs Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. "... Flamengo is my dream."

But Ronaldo did not rule out hanging up his football shoes in 2009.

Rio de Janeiro - Former guerilla and long shot Fernando Gabeira achieved a surprise showing in Rio de Janeiro's mayoral election, winning a place in a run-off on an anti-corruption, eco-friendly platform.

Gabeira, 67, of the Green Party took 25.6 per cent of the votes in Sunday's election, placing second behind Fernando Paes of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) with 32 per cent, election officials said.