Lula insists flooding devastation will not happen at World Cup or Olympics

BRAZIL President Lula insists the devastation caused by the flooding in Rio will not be repeated at the 2014 Football World Cup or the 2016 Summer Olympics.

DEFIANT: Brazil President Lula insists the chaos caused by flooding in Rio will not happen again during 2014 Football World Cup or 2016 Summer Olympics (Getty Images)

The death toll from the flooding and infrastructural damage caused by the heaviest rains in Rio for forty years - which began on Monday afternoon and lasted for nearly 24 hours - has topped 100 and is expected to keep rising.

The poor drainage has exacerbated the problem within the city's notorious slums [favelas] - the worst affected areas - with more than 1400 people left homeless, according to Mayor of Rio Edoardo Paes.

The pitch at the Maracana stadium, which will host the World Cup Final as well as the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, was left under water with its dressing rooms completely flooded.

Since being awarded the chance to host the first South American Olympics last October, Rio has already experienced infrastructural problems with the city plunged into darkness for more than five hours following a blackout in November.

But Lula is adamant Rio will not suffer such problems when the eyes of the watching world are upon them.

"Rio de Janeiro will be ready to welcome the world of football in four years' time and then the Olympics," said Lula.

"Plans are already in hand to ensure that the problems which were exacerbated by these freak storms cannot be repeated."