RIO DE JANEIRO , Brazil ( CNN ) -- The death toll from historic floods in southern Brazil continued to creep upward Monday , with 112 reported dead , the state news agency said . People make their way through floodwaters in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina last week . Officials say 19 people remain missing and nearly 79,000 residents have been left homeless , according to the state-run Agencia Brasil . Many of the deaths have been caused by mudslides . The city of Ilhota in the hard-hit state of Santa Catarina has recorded 37 fatalities , the most of any municipality , Agencia Brasil said . In the city of Maximus in Luis Alves state , eight rescuers were injured over the weekend , one of them gravely , the news agency said . Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday that Santa Catarina will be rebuilt and become just as strong as it was . `` We can not lose hope , '' Lula said . `` We must be convinced that people will reconstruct the state of Santa Catarina . There is a national solidarity never seen before in the history of the country . '' Lula flew over some of the flooded areas last week and proclaimed the disaster one of the worst in the country 's history . `` I 've never seen anything like this , '' Lula said Thursday . He said last week he was releasing 1.97 billion Reals ( US $ 854 million ) in aid to the affected areas , especially Santa Catarina . Officials have distributed 880 tons of food , nearly 1 million liters of water and 60 tons of clothing , toys and cleaning and personal hygiene material , Agencia Brasil said Monday . Authorities also were warning residents in flooded areas to be careful with food and water they consume . Food that has been under water or moist should not be eaten unless it 's in a sealed plastic bag or a can , they said . The health secretary for Santa Catarina also said residents who drink contaminated water run the risk of getting hepatitis A and diarrhea . The disaster also is having an economic effect , with bridges , roads , houses and buildings destroyed . The federation of industries said the closed port in Itajai is costing $ 33 million a day . The port is the major terminal for frozen goods in Brazil and second in the transport of containers , Agencia Brasil said . Port Superintendent Arnaldo Schmitt said last week part of the terminal could be back in operation in two weeks .
NEW : Authorities warn about health risks of flood-contaminated water , food . Floods in southern Brazil blamed for 112 deaths , state news agency says . 79,000 people homeless , 19 missing ; landslides caused much of the damage . Brazilian president releases almost $ 1 billion in aid to affected areas .