260 Reportedly Die in Brazil Flooding

A man protects himself with an umbrella while wading through the water on a flooded street in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after the heavy rains on 11 January 2011. Photo by EPA/BGNES

More than 260 people have died in the states of Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo because of the heavy rains and flooding in south-eastern Brazil, CNN reported.

Towns and villages have been cut off across the state of Rio de Janiero as heavy rains continue to fall.

About 14 people were reported to have died and 1,000 were left without shelter in the overnight downpours, which triggered landslides in the mountain town of Teresopolis

Another 107 people were killed in mudslides in the city of Nova Friburgo, the BBC informed.

Nearly 75,000 people were left without power and thousands were left homeless in the region as a result of the heavy storms.

In the state of Sao Paulo, at least 24 people were reported dead as the heavy rains continue in parts of the state.

Power and telephone lines are down and there is no drinking water in some of the towns. Major roads have also been cut by the floods and landslides.

With many people still reported missing, officials fear that the death toll will rise even further and there is a concern about water-borne diseases.

Bulgaria-descended President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, is due to fly over the area on Thursday to inspect the damage.

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