Aerial view of Santa Leopoldina municipality, flooded after heavy rains, in Espirito Santo state, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Civil defense officials say the death toll in the floods and mudslides caused by heavy downpours in two states in southeastern Brazil has risen. More than 50,000 have been forced to leave their homes. (AP Photo/Vitor Jubino-A Gazeta) **BRAZIL OUT**
Brazil Floods
People collect discarded food drenched in mud and rain, outside a supermarket in the Itaguacu municipality, Espirito Santo state, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Civil defense officials say the death toll in the floods and mudslides caused by heavy downpours in two states in southeastern Brazil has risen. More than 50,000 have been forced to leave their homes. (AP Photo/Vitor Jubino-A Gazeta) **BRAZIL OUT**
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SAO PAULO (AP) — Army troops have been deployed in Espirito Santo state to help with the distribution of food, water and medicine to victims of the floods and mudslides that have punished southeastern Brazil for more than 10 days.
The G1 news portal cites an army major as saying that 170 troops arrived Thursday morning.
Army engineers are expected to arrive later in the day to help repair highways, roads and bridges damaged by the floods.
Calls to the Army for details went unanswered.
Espirito Santo’s civil defense department says 21 people died in mudslides or floodwaters and close to 50,000 people were forced from their homes.
In neighboring Minas Gerais state, floods and mudslides have killed 18 people and about 4,000 people were forced to leave their homes.
