Mudslides and flooding killed at least 29 people in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state and authorities worry the death toll could climb with more heavy rains in the forecast, local media reported today.
Ten people were found dead today after a small hotel collapsed in the beach resort of Angra dos Reis, one of Brazil's most exclusive tourism destinations, GloboNews television channel reported, citing firefighters.
Rescue teams, aided by helicopters and navy boats, were struggling to reach the region where the hotel collapsed, Pedro Machado, head of the firefighters' corps, told GloboNews.
Television footage showed the hotel completely buried under a mountain of reddish brown mud.
Yesterday, a heavy downpour that triggered mudslides and floods killed as many as 19 people across Rio state, Brazil's third most populous.
Mr Machado said heavy rains forecast for the coming days could make rescue work harder and trigger more mudslides.
The state's civil defence, ports and firefighters agencies did not immediately return calls. Local media said most of the deaths occurred as shacks located in some poor areas collapsed. Heavy rain was forecast for greater Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's second-largest city.