Brazil floods: Death toll rising as torrential rains cause landslides

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Heavy rains in Brazil have caused poor neighbourhoods and shanty towns in north-eastern Pernambuco state to be demolished after dangerous landslides. Bodies are being recovered following the torrential rains and flooding and many residents are still looking for missing loved ones. More heavy rains are forecast in the next few days. President Jair Bolsonaro is expected to travel to Recife, the state capital, later on Monday. Local journalist Brian Miller is in Recife, the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Pernambuco. He says the death toll has been continuously rising, as well as those who are missing and displaced, and that more rain is forecast this week. Due to the cost of land, many of the poorer communities are forced to live in "risk zones", and despite the danger, many are reluctant to leave their possessions and homes. "Poor people are forced to live in very dangerous locations in risk zone." Photo: Firefighters, army soldiers and volunteers work in the area of a landslide caused by heavy rains in Pernambuco state in north-eastern Brazil Credit: EPA