Thirty one people killed as flooding and mudslides hits north eastern Brazil

Swept away: Houses lie submerged after heavy flooding and mudslides killed at least 31 people in north eastern Brazil

Flooding and mudslides have killed at least 31 people in north eastern Brazil, officials said today.

Two states have been hit by heavy rain, causing rivers to burst their banks, and mudslides have hit areas where shacks are built on hillsides.



Civil defence officials in Alagoas state said 19 people have died and dozens of others were missing.
At least 80,000 people have been driven from their homes by the floods.

In Pernambuco state, officials said 12 people have died and 42,000 were homeless.

The number of deaths is likely to rise because many areas have been cut off due to cuts in power and telephone lines.

In May 2009, flooding in the same area killed at least 44 people and left 380,000 homeless.