Residents of the flood-stricken towns of Brazil's northeastern state of Alagoas woke up on Wednesday with even more work ahead of them.

Days of heavy rain in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco flooded towns, burst a river dam and killed at least 44 people. More than 40,000 people have been made homeless and at least 600 are still missing.

Civil defense workers and residents have been working continuously, to clean up muddy streets and search for survivors in the piles of rubble.

Strong water currents are still running through many towns. This makes rescue works and the delivering food supplies even more challenging.
         
A flood victim said they needed to receive aid quickly.

[Neide Aparecida, Flood Victim]:
"I think we won't be able to recover anything here. But our dignity continues as we wait for help."

The federal government said it would allocate $56 million for relief efforts, and send 20,000 baskets of basic food supplies to the two states.

Mattresses and blankets will be distributed to the thousands of homeless.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is due to fly over the affected areas today.