SAO PAULO (AFP) - Torrential rains overnight killed at least 19 people on the outskirts of the Brazilian economic capital Sao Paulo, rescue workers said on Friday (March 12).

Ironically, the flooding comes on the heels of two years of drought that caused severe water shortages in the sprawling metropolis of 20 million people.

A landslide buried 17 of the victims, while two others drowned in the floodwaters, the rescue service said on its official Twitter account.

TV images showed homes and cars immersed in water as rescuers in boats tried to reach victims left stranded by the flooding.

Dozens of families were stranded across several communities in the greater Sao Paulo metropolitan area.

The rain interrupted flights for six hours at the Sao Paulo international airport, the largest in Brazil.

The commuter rail network was also shut down.