At least 18 people died from landslides and floods due to torrential rains that hit Petropolis, a mountainous region in the state of Rio de Janeiro. According to firefighters, more than 180 soldiers are working in the region which has already seen hundreds of deaths from heavy rains in 2011. The department said 25.8 centimeters of rain fell on the area in three hours, almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined.
In the videos posted on social networks you can see cars and houses dragged away by landslides and water. The Petropolis City Hall said in a statement that heavy rains have caused “a high number of accidents and fatalities” and that rescue operations are still ongoing. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, traveling to Russia, said on Twitter that he had instructed his ministers to provide immediate support to the affected population.