Rain and mudslides kill at least 8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, leave 20 missing
Source: Washington Post / AP
JAMAPARA, Brazil — Heavy rains caused mudslides that killed at least eight people in Rio de Janeiro state Monday, raising the number of dead in Rio and neighboring Minas Gerais state to 23 so far this year, civil defense officials said.
Mud loosened by the rain swallowed about 10 houses in the town of Sapucaia Monday morning. Seven residents were confirmed dead by rescue crews that are still searching for survivors. The eighth victim died when a house collapsed nearby.
Up to 20 other people are still missing, according to Rio state’s civil defense department. Local authorities are still compiling a list of the disappeared.
Among the missing are five members of the same family, including a 7-year-old girl, whose car was caught in the mudslide, said officials and a relative of the victims, Maria Lopes.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/rain-and-mudslides-kill-at-least-6-in-rio-de-janeiro-brazil-leave-20-missing/2012/01/09/gIQAGUDzlP_story.html