Death Toll in Brazil Floods Rises

At least 500 people have been found dead due to flooding and mudslides in Brazil, and rescue workers fear many more have been buried. Torrents of rain and mud swept through the Serrana region around 60 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, toppling houses of rich and poor alike while they slept. While the floods haven’t affected Brazil’s main exports—soy, sugar cane, oranges, and coffee—the estimated damages are expected to be in the billions of dollars. The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said the flooding is the worst natural disaster to hit Brazil in 40 years. In some areas, bodies piled up on the streets because there was no room left at the morgues.