CRISISBOOM

More than 420 people have now been killed by flooding and mudslides in south-eastern Brazil, officials say.

About 200 people have died in the town of Nova Friburgo, some 175 in Teresopolis and dozens more in Petropolis, media report. Thousands of people have been made homeless.

Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral blamed local governments for allowing poor building and illegal occupations.

President Dilma Rousseff has toured damaged areas in Nova Friburgo.

She vowed that there would be “firm action” by the government.

Ms Rousseff was accompanied by Mr Cabral and other politicians and later left for a press conference in Rio, where she spoke of the “dramatic” scenes she had seen.

Expressing solidarity with the victims, she said: “The suffering of the people is very great.”

‘It was hell’

Heavy rain fell early on Thursday as rescuers resumed their search but l Read more…