Under maranhao state law, it is illegal to cut down babassu palm trees.

maranhao州法律规定，砍伐巴巴苏棕榈树是违法行为。

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Worst-hit is the state of Maranhao along the Atlantic coast and south of the mouth of the Amazon river.

受灾最严重地区是位于亚马逊河口南部和大西洋沿岸的马拉尼昂州。

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The fear now is that diseases could start to spread, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in the town of Bacabal, Maranhao state.

BBC: Brazil flood victims return home

Ms Sarney, the governor of Maranhao, in Brazil's poor north-east, has surged in popularity through a propaganda campaign that highlights her charm and glamour more than her policies.

ECONOMIST: Politics in Brazil