Hundreds homeless, 2 dead, after heavy rains in Rio
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Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers. Heavy rains triggered mudslides and flooding in Rio de Janeiro, leaving hundreds of people homeless and at least two dead, with more rainfall due to heighten the misery, officials said on Friday. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A watermark shows the height of flood waters on the facade of a home in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Residents salvage a fridge from a home flooded by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Picture taken at the neighbourhood of Xeren, municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 3, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers and triggered mudslides. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A man carries a television set as he crosses the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Residents watch the rising Capivari River in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where heavy rains caused flooding, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Residents look at debris left by a flood caused by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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A dog and a clowder of cats seek refuge on a piece of furniture in a home flooded by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of -- PHOTO: AFP
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Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers. -- PHOTO: AFP
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An aerial view of damages caused by the floods of the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A flood victim eats his lunch inside his damaged house after flooding at the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers. Heavy rains triggered mudslides and flooding in Rio de Janeiro, leaving hundreds of people homeless and at least two dead, with more rainfall due to heighten the misery, officials said on Friday. -- PHOTO: AFP
A watermark shows the height of flood waters on the facade of a home in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Residents salvage a fridge from a home flooded by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Picture taken at the neighbourhood of Xeren, municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 3, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers and triggered mudslides. -- PHOTO: AFP
A man carries a television set as he crosses the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Residents watch the rising Capivari River in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where heavy rains caused flooding, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Residents look at debris left by a flood caused by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
A dog and a clowder of cats seek refuge on a piece of furniture in a home flooded by heavy rains in the Xerem neighborhood, about 50km north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, Jan 3, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of -- PHOTO: AFP
Handout picture released by Rio de Janeiro's State Government of showing an aerial view of Xeren neighbourhood, in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, some 50km from Rio de Janeiro's downtown taken on Jan 4, 2013 after heavy downpours caused the overflowing of rivers. -- PHOTO: AFP
An aerial view of damages caused by the floods of the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A flood victim eats his lunch inside his damaged house after flooding at the Capivari river in Xerem, in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro on Jan 4, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Heavy rains triggered mudslides and flooding in Rio de Janeiro, leaving hundreds of people homeless and at least two dead, with more rainfall due to heighten the misery, officials said on Friday.
Several rivers in Rio state's northern region overflowed and turned into torrents, destroying a bridge and leaving entire neighbourhoods strewn with large tree limbs and other debris.
Ensuing landslides decimated shoddily-built homes, demolished streets and destroyed cars, many of them sinking head first into the muddy waters.
Under record temperatures exceeding 40 deg C, residents rushed to salvage their belongings from homes flattened by trees uprooted in the water and mudslides.
