Asia-Pacific

Mudslide kills 16 in Brazil

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-02 10:44

An aerial view of Pousada Sankay hotel buried by a mudslide in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro state Friday, January 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

RIO DO JANEIRO: The Civil Defense of Rio do Janeiro state said on Friday that at least 16 people were killed in two mudslides occurred in Andra dos Reis municipality in the South of the Brazilian state.

The Brazilian Presidency said on Friday that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has ordered the National Integration Ministry to give all the needed resources "for the immediate rescue and reestablishment of normality" in the area.

One of the mudslides hit the Sankay lodge in Grande Island and destroyed several houses nearby.

According to Colonel Pedro Machado, head of the local firefighters, the rescue teams have found 11 bodies and a girl of 18 years old alive.

Machado said that 80 firemen and 20 Military Police agents are working at the scene with help from the Navy and local volunteers.

The rescue efforts are advancing slowly because excavators could not be used for fear of causing new mudslides, Machado said.

Machado added that the number of victims could rise, for there could have been some 40 people inside the lodge, and more in the nearby houses.

The other mudslide occurred in Angra dos Reis city, destroying at least five houses.

The rescue teams have recovered five corpses, but they said more people could be buried under the mud.

With these deaths, the death toll for rains in Rio do Janeiro state rose to 36. Seven people lost their lives in Sao Paulo state, three others died in Minas Gerais. However, the figures could rise in the coming hours.

Since last Wednesday the Southeast of Brazil has been suffering from uninterrupted rainfalls, causing mudslides and flood.

Brazilian President Da Silva has ordered forces from the Navy and the National Integration Ministry to join in the rescue efforts.