Petropolis: at least 94 dead and dozens missing in Brazil landslides

Heavy rain and flooding led to mudslides that swept away homes in the city of Petropolis

Rio de Janeiro state’s government has confirmed 94 deaths after floods and mudslides swept away homes and cars in the Brazilian city of Petropolis.

Dozens most are still missing as recovery efforts continue in mountainous terrain.

“We don’t yet know the full scale of this, ” mayor Rubens Bomtempo said on Wednesday. “It was a hard day, a difficult day.”

People wait as rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors in an area affected by landslides in Petropolis, Brazil. AP

Heavy rains set off mudslides and floods in a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, killing people and damaging property. EPA

Houses damaged by a mudslide in the area of Morro da Oficina, Petropolis. Reuters

A man rescues a dog amid the damage caused by the heavy rains. EPA

Rio de Janeiro state’s government confirmed at least 94 deaths from the floods and mudslides. EPA

Firefighters observe as a person is rescued in Petropolis. EPA

Thousands of people have been left homeless and an unknown number are missing. EPA

Priscilla Neves waits for news about her missing parents, who were in their family home when it was covered by mudslides. AP

Cars piled up by floodwaters on a street. EPA

Residents embrace after fatal mudslides destroyed homes in Petropolis. AP

People leap over floodwaters on a street. EPA

Many houses were left buried beneath mud while cars were in piles on the streets. Reuters

Residents embrace as they wait for a report on missing relatives. AP

Many houses in the city are in areas unfit for structures and made more vulnerable by deforestation and inadequate drainage, experts say. EPA

A resident yells during the search for survivors. AP

Rescue workers use a sniffer dog look for bodies of victims. AP

Several buses were also swept by floodwaters. Reuters

Residents watch as emergency personnel work at a site of a mudslide in Morro da Oficina. Reuters

More than 24 hours after Tuesday's deadly deluge, survivors were digging to find lost loved ones. Rio de Janeiro’s public prosecutors’ office said on Wednesday night that it had compiled a list of 35 people yet to be located.

Governor Claudio Castro said almost 400 people were left homeless. Searchers picked through the wreckage throughout the day and 21 people were recovered alive.

“No one could predict rain as hard as this,” Mr Castro said. More rain is expected, weather forecasters said.

Mr Castro said the rains were the heaviest in the city since 1932. The state fire department said 25.8 centimetres of rain fell within three hours on Tuesday — almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined.

Footage posted on social media showed torrents dragging cars and houses through the streets and water swirling through the city.

One video showed two buses sinking into a swollen river as its passengers clambered out of the windows, scrambling for safety. Some did not make it to the banks and were washed away, out of sight.

“I could only hear my brother yelling, ‘Help! Help! My God!‘” resident Rosilene Virginio told AP as a man comforted her. “It’s very sad to see people asking for help and having no way of helping, no way of doing anything. It’s desperate, a feeling of loss so great.”

Houses were left buried beneath mud while appliances and cars were in piles on the streets.

Petropolis, named after a former Brazilian emperor, is a tourist destination north of Rio de Janeiro that used to be where the country's 19th century monarchs went to escape the summer heat.

The stricken mountain region has seen similar catastrophes in recent decades, including one that caused more than 900 deaths. Works on a plan to reduce the risks of landslides have made slow progress.

Local authorities say more than 180 residents who live in at-risk areas are sheltering in schools. More equipment and manpower was expected to help rescue efforts on Thursday.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro expressed solidarity during a trip to Russia. Petropolis’s city hall declared three days of mourning for the tragedy.

South-eastern Brazil has been hit with heavy rains this year, with more than 40 deaths recorded between incidents in Minas Gerais state in early January and Sao Paulo state later the same month.