Brazilia: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday flew over the flood-hit southeastern state of Espirito Santo, where at least 30 people have died in days of torrential rain.
The floods, caused by days of rains, are feared to be the worst in 90 years.
A Civil Defence statement said nearly 50,000 people were forced to leave their homes, up from the 46,000 reported earlier.
It said 47 cities in Espirito Santo, which borders Rio de Janeiro state, were affected by the flooding, including many left without communications, drinkable water and power.
Rousseff said two helicopters and army trucks would be sent to the area to deliver food and medicine to those affected.
“The tragedy in Espirito Santo destroyed homes, roads and dreams. We are going to try to rebuild them,” the president said after her aerial tour.
Espirito Santo Governor Renato Casagrande, who Saturday declared a state of alert in the area, said the rains were the worst in the past 90 years.
Some 13 centimetres (five inches) of rain fell on Sunday night alone in the state capital Vitoria and civil defense officials on Tuesday warned of further flooding as rivers burst their banks.
The local church and several schools in Itaguacu were turned into makeshift refuge centres.
The rain and landslips have left many roads closed and several bridges have collapsed, with authorities saying two thirds of local districts have been affected.
Heavy rains also hit the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais, where 15 fatalities have been reported since October 15.
Rousseff has pledged millions of dollars in federal aid to two south-eastern states where floods caused maximum damage.
After flying over the area, she said helicopters and army trucks would deliver food and medicine to the states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo.
A number of homes, roads and bridges were destroyed and many cities were left without power and drinking water.
On Tuesday, Rousseff was flown by helicopter to gain first-hand information of the damage.
She said she had never seen such flooding before and promised to rebuild the affected areas.
Espirito Santo Governor Renato Casagrande said the floods were the worst in the past nine decades.
Meanwhile in early December, a storm left 16 people dead and flattened more than 200 houses in the city of Lajedinho in the northeastern state of Bahia.
In January 2012, floods and landslides killed at least six people and forced thousands from their homes in Minas Gerais.
