Brazil death toll likely to reach 1,000 from floods, mud

Fri, 21 Jan 2011

Rio de Janeiro - Several dozen more bodies were recovered Friday, bringing the death toll to 785 from more than a week of floods and mudslides, according to figures released by civil defense workers.

Officials fear the death toll will top 1,000, based on reports that another 400 people are still missing.

Heavy rainfall dropped the disaster on the state of Rio de Janeiro - a broad swath of countryside just beyond the city of Rio.

Recovery teams continue to work round the clock in the hilly Serrana region searching for the dead, while civil defense units distributed food and water. Most roads have been cleared for passage.

Brazil's worst weather catastrophe in recent history has left at least 6,000 people homeless. Another 8,000 people had to temporarily vacate their homes because of flooding, and spent some time in emergency shelters.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/363611,reach-1000-floods-mud.html.