The city of Petropolis was struck by a deluge on Tuesday and there are fears the toll could rise higher as searchers check damaged areas Wednesday. Authorities say the area got just over 10 inches of rain within three hours. That is almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined.
Photos showed how extremely heavy rains set off mudslides and floods in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, killing multiple people, authorities reported. Residents and volunteers were seen in one photo removing the body of a mudslide victim in Petropolis, Brazil on Wednesday. An aerial view shows a neighborhood affected by landslides. Brazil's Globo TV broadcast images of houses on Wednesday buried below mud where firefighters were not able to access. Streets remained inaccessible in some parts, the Associated Press reported.