Death toll from south Brazil's extended extreme weather climbs to 161

South America's largest country has suffered a string of recent extreme weather events. [AFP]

The discovery of four more bodies in the last few hours in south Brazil's weather-battered Rio Grande do Sul state has pushed the death toll to 161, the Civil Defense agency said Tuesday.

Record rainfall has devastated the state since April 29, leading to deadly floods and mudslides in 464 cities and affecting over 2.2 million residents in both urban and rural areas, including the capital Porto Alegre.