Brazil mudslides kill at least 94, with dozens still missing

Aerial view after the mudslide in Petropolis, Brazil on Wednesday. Pic/AFP

Rio de Janeiro state's government has confirmed 94 deaths from floods and mudslides that swept away homes and cars in the city of Petropolis. But even as families prepared to bury their dead, it was unclear Thursday how many bodies remained trapped in the mud.

Rubens Bomtempo, mayor of the German-influenced city nestled in the mountains, didn't offer an estimate for the number of people missing, with recovery efforts still on. "We don't yet know the full scale of this," Bomtempo said at a news conference Wednesday. "It was a hard day, a difficult day."

More than 24 hours after the deadly deluge early Tuesday, survivors were digging to find lost loved ones. Rio de Janeiro's public prosecutors' office said in a statement Wednesday night that it had compiled a list of 35 people yet to be located. Footage posted on social media showed torrents dragging cars and houses through the streets and water swirling through the city.

The state fire department said 25.8 centimeters (just over 10 inches) of rain fell within three hours on Tuesday - almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined. Rio de Janeiro's Gov. Claudio Castro said that the rains were the worst Petropolis has received since 1932. "No one could predict rain as hard as this," Castro said. More rain is expected through the rest of the week, according to weather forecasters.

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