20 people killed in storm-hit Brazil

Days of torrential downpours have triggered landslides and flooding.

Days of torrential rain have caused widespread flooding and landslides in parts of eastern Brazil [EPA]

20 people have been killed in eastern Brazil after days of torrential rain.

A further 40,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the rain triggered widespread flooding and mudslides in the states of Espiritu Santo and Minas Gerais.

In the coastal city of Vila Velha, streets were flooded and people at a donation centre worked through the night to prepare food packets for those affected.

The period from November to April usually sees the heaviest rain in the region, but this year the rain has been exceptionally heavy.

The average rainfall for the month of December is 137mm. However, in the last 8 days 412mm of rain has fallen in Vitoria, a quarter of that falling in just 24 hours.

This has sodden the ground, triggering landslides and flooding in the region.

Unfortunately it is expected to stay wet over the region, with plenty of thunderstorms forecast for the next few days.

Source: Al Jazeera