Death toll rises after torrential rains in southeastern Brazil

Torrential rains in the state of Minas Gerais have forced authorities to declare a state of emergency. Landslides, flooding and a swollen river have created serious problems.

The mayor of Juiz de Fora, Margarida Salomão, says some neighborhoods are isolated after at least 20 landslides, calling the situation “extreme.”

Local authorities say at least 18 people have died in Juiz de Fora. The city of Ubá, in the same state, has also been hard hit, with at least seven deaths.

Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes due to the torrential rains, the worst for a February in the area since measurements began in the country.