Rio de Janeiro, Feb 3 (IANS/EFE) The toll due to mudslides triggered by heavy rains that have deluged the mountainous region of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has risen to 869, authorities said.
The floods and mudslides have killed 418 people in Nova Friburgo, 354 in Teresopolis, 71 in Petropolis, 21 in Sumidouro, four in San Jose do Vale do Rio Preto and one in Bom Jardim, according to latest figures released by the Agencia Brasil news service.
Another 423 people remain missing, the state attorney general's office said.
According to the state health department, 8,777 people have lost their homes and 20,790 have been evacuated because those houses are located in high-risk areas.