Treacherous storm conditions have plagued southern Brazilian states for nearly a week, causing flooding and landslides and displacing thousands of people.

Santa Catarina Civil Defense Secretary Marcio Luiz Alves said that the severe weather started Monday, with a tornado with estimated winds reaching 200 km/h striking the western part of the state. He added that heavy downpours have continued due to a low pressure system.

In one area people were wading through knee-high water. Officials have counted five weather-related deaths and at least 120 injuries.

Flooding and landslides have wreaked havoc across the state, especially in the southern region. Alves said that more than 1.5 million people have been affected by the severe weather, with as many as 1.1 million losing electricity for a day earlier in the week.

He added that at least 1,906 people are staying in government shelters, while nearly 10,650 have sought safety at the homes of relatives and friends.

(via CNN)