South American football's governing body, Conmebol, on May 4 postponed the Libertadores and Sudamericana matches scheduled for next week in Porto Alegre, Brazil, due to heavy rains.

The government of Rio Grande do Sul declared a state of emergency on May 2 following the intense rains that have hit the region.

"Conmebol has decided to postpone the Libertadores match between Chile's Huachipato and Brazil's Gremio, scheduled for Wednesday, and the Sudamericana match Bolivia's Real Tomayapo and Brazil's Internacional scheduled for Tuesday," the governing body said in a statement.

"The new date for both matches will be announced shortly."

Flooding across the state has killed 55 and left more than 350,000 without electricity, while Salgado Filho International Airport is under water and operations have been suspended indefinitely, with roads also being affected. REUTERS