Brazil, Janaury 02: Fifty people have died after heavy rain sparked a series of mudslides in Brazil, including one at an upmarket island resort that left 19 dead.
Rescuers fear the number of victims could rise as a frantic search for survivors continues.The deadliest mudslide happened at the resort of Angra dos Reis near Rio de Janeiro.
A slab of earth 300-meters wide fell from a hillside and collapsed on three houses and a waterfront lodge.
It happened just after revelers returned to their rooms after seeing in the new year.
The Sankay resort, which can only be accessed by boat, was reportedly fully booked with 50 guests.
About 120 rescuers scrambled through mud and around toppled trees and large rocks to search for more survivors.
Police helicopters and navy vessels helped in the rescue operation.
Another mudslide in Rio killed 11.
Almost 80 mudslides, whose devastation included uprooted trees and downed power lines, were reported throughout the region and forecasters predicted further rain.
“People had never seen so much rain in this region,” Rio de Janeiro’s vice governor, Luiz Fernando Pezao, told Brazil’s Globo TV.
“We’ll have to wait for the rescue efforts, but we’ll likely encounter a very sad outcome.”
Local officials have declared three days of mourning.
—Agencies