Brazil: Dozens killed as heavy rains cause floods, landslides

At least 30 people have been killed and 17 are still missing after two days of heavy rain led to widespread floods and landslides in Brazil‘s southeast, according to civil defence officials.

More than 2,500 people were evacuated from their homes in the hardest-hit Minas Gerais state as the downpours drenched the region over Friday and Saturday.

The deaths were reported in the regional capital, Belo Horizonte, and across the state.

The Brazilian weather service said on Saturday that Belo Horizonte had received 171.8 millimetres of rain in just 24 hours – its biggest total for one day in more than 100 years.

State Governor Romeu Zema is expected to fly over the affected areas on Sunday to evaluate the damage.

More rain is in the forecast in the coming days across Minas Gerais and for Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The period from December to April is generally the wettest across southern Brazil.