Rio, January 19, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The situation is beginning to get back to normal in the municipalities affected by rains over the past few days in the state of Rio de Janeiro, but the Civil Defense continues on alert, in case the rains return. According to the state government, city halls will continue to receive help, such as orientation of the homeless and supplies of mattresses, basic food baskets, blankets, diapers, and powdered milk.

According to the state office of Civil Defense, the heavy rains have caused 1,197 residents to be evacuated from their homes and left 541 people homeless in the state. Eleven people were killed, and an adolescent from Honório Gurgel, in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, continues to be missing. Today, aerial photographs of the most badly hit areas and a report on the situation in the state will be delivered to the head of the Presidential Civilian Advisory Staff, Minister José Dirceu, in Brasília. (DAS)