Rio to build houses for flood victims

SAO PAULO:The Rio de Janeiro state government and local construction companies are reportedly teaming up to provide housing for hundreds of victims of the state’s recent devastating floods and mudslides.Brazilian news media are reporting that the partnership will donate 2,000 houses.Rio vice Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao is quoted by the O Globo newspaper in its Sunday edition as saying that the government will donate the land and the companies will help build the houses. The information could not be confirmed immediately.More than 6,000 people have lost their homes in floods and mudslides earlier this month that killed 799 in Rio’s mountainous region.The Brussels-based International Disaster Database says it is the country’s deadliest natural disaster since 1900 – Yahoonews