Torrential rains in north-eastern Brazil have left at least 44 people dead and dozens missing, the government said Sunday, as rescuers capitalized on a lull in downpours to search for survivors.
An additional 56 people are missing and at least 25 are injured, Brazil's Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira said on Sunday.
"We registered 44 dead, 56 missing, 25 injured, 3,957 without shelter and 533 displaced," Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira told a press conference in Recife, the capital of hard-hit north-eastern Pernambuco state.
Some of the deaths were caused by landslides in the greater Recife area, said the Pernambuco civil defence, which has urged residents living in high-risk areas to seek shelter elsewhere.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, rainfall volume reached 70 percent of what was forecast for all of May in some parts. The disaster is the latest in a recent series of deadly landslides and floods triggered by extreme weather in Brazil. Authorities warned that heavy rain was forecast to continue.
An additional 56 people are missing and at least 25 are injured, Brazil's Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira said on Sunday.
"We registered 44 dead, 56 missing, 25 injured, 3,957 without shelter and 533 displaced," Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira told a press conference in Recife, the capital of hard-hit north-eastern Pernambuco state.
Some of the deaths were caused by landslides in the greater Recife area, said the Pernambuco civil defence, which has urged residents living in high-risk areas to seek shelter elsewhere.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, rainfall volume reached 70 percent of what was forecast for all of May in some parts. The disaster is the latest in a recent series of deadly landslides and floods triggered by extreme weather in Brazil. Authorities warned that heavy rain was forecast to continue.
