Rio De Janeiro - Arab Today
Torrential rains lashing southeastern Brazil have killed at least 33 people, including five members of one family buried in a landslide, according to a new official death toll issued Thursday. The five relatives, including a pregnant woman, were trapped in their car when it was buried in mud on Monday in Rio de Janeiro state's northern Sapucaia municipality. Their bodies were found Wednesday, civil defense officials said. That one landslide has now killed at least 18 people.
The heavy rains and ensuing flooding are mainly affecting the southeastern states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, where thousands of people have been evacuated.
Only a year ago, floods and landslides left more than 1,300 people dead or missing in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state.
Source: BNA