SAO PAULO, June 22 (UPI) -- The president of Brazil says his government is preparing a provisional measure to help flood victims in Alagoas and Pernambuco rebuild their homes.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told a Brazilian television program Tuesday $150 million will be set aside for reconstruction in the two northeastern states, O Globo of Brazil reports.
He said Brazil's Air Force is assembling a field hospital in Palmares after the city hospital was completely flooded.
Flooding in the two states has taken the lives of at least 40 people and left some 150,000 others homeless.
Civil Defense reports that more than 1,000 residents are unaccounted for.
Several towns remain isolated and there are reports many residents are still stranded on roofs waiting to be rescued.
Twenty-two cities are said to be underwater.
