Rio De Janeiro: At least 31 people died
in floods and mudslides near Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, bringing
the overall toll from heavy rains in Brazil's southeast this
week to 44 dead, authorities said.
The 31 dead recorded in towns in a mountainous area
near Rio today came after 13 deaths registered in Sao Paulo on
Monday and yesterday.
Heavy rains common during Brazil's summer wet season
were intensified this week by a cold front which doubled the
usual precipitation, causing saturated hillsides to give way
and crash into homes.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 23:58