Porto Alegre, April 1, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Civil Defense agencies in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina (SC) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS) released figures on the financial damage caused by cyclone Catarina last Sunday (28). In the city of Torres (RS), where 4,900 houses were hit, the losses totaled US$ 5.75 million (R$ 16.640 million), and in Santa Catarina, where 32,000 houses were pounded, besides the 723 people who were forced to abandon their homes and the other 31,500 who were otherwise affected, the losses amounted to US$ 340 million (R$ 1 billion).

Total crop losses, especially corn, passion fruit, bananas, tomatoes, and bell peppers, added up to US$ 34.60 million (R$ 100 million).

Translator: David Silberstein