The number of victims of landslides and floods due to heavy rains in the municipal district of Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil has reached 152 people, including children, reported local edition of Globo.
On the fifth day of search and rescue operations, 165 people are listed as missing. At least 967 more residents of Rio de Janeiro were left homeless. Rescuers are hindered by dense fog.
video
The number of deaths in the area exceeded the number of deaths in a similar natural disaster in 2011. Then 73 people died.
Heavy rains have been falling in Brazil since February 15, when almost a month’s worth of rain (25.8 cm) fell in Rio de Janeiro in three hours. State Governor Claudio Castro said the rains were the heaviest for Petropolis since 1932.