Affected houses are seen in a flooded area after an extratropical cyclone hit southern towns, in Mucum, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Diego Vara Acquire Licensing RightsRIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - At least 39 people have died and nine remain missing after a cyclone battered Brazil's southernmost state Rio Grande do Sul, flooding homes and swelling rivers, local authorities said on Thursday. Governor Eduardo Leite declared a state of public calamity and canceled statewide parades meant to celebrate Brazil's Independence Day on Thursday. In addition to the 39 fatalities in Rio Grande do Sul, one person died in neighboring Santa Catarina state while driving through the city of Jupia when a tree fell on their car. Independent weather forecasters MetSul and Climatempo cautioned Rio Grande do Sul is expected to receive more heavy showers on Thursday and Friday.

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Persons: Diego Vara, Eduardo Leite, We've, Leite, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Geraldo Alckmin, Climatempo, Rio, Pedro Fonseca, Gabriel Araujo, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, DE, Roca Sales, Cruzeiro, Sul, Thomson Locations: Mucum, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, DE JANEIRO, Santa Catarina, Jupia, India, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia