Powerful, 'abnormal' rains lash Rio de Janeiro, at least six dead
People react at the site of a mudslide after heavy rains, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Torrential rains doused Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, killing at least six people and sowing chaos in Brazil's second largest city, which declared a state of emergency after a storm that the mayor described as "absolutely abnormal."
A woman and her 7-year-old granddaughter were buried in a mudslide as they rode in a taxi, and the driver's body was also found inside the vehicle, police detective Valeria Aragao told O Globo newspaper. Two adult sisters died when their home in a slum was buried in a mudslide, while a man drowned in another part of the city, the mayor's office said in a statement.
A rescue worker washes his hands at the site of a mudslide, after heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
The rains began around Monday evening and had not let up by midday Tuesday, with a heavy downpour forecast through the end of the day. More than 34 cm (13 inches) of rain fell on parts of the city in the last 24 hours, according to the mayor's office.
Videos on local news showed normally calm residential streets turned into raging torrents that dragged people and cars. A coastal bike path meant to be a legacy of the 2016 Olympics that had been weakened by previous storms suffered more damage, with chunks of the path falling into the sea.
"These rains are absolutely abnormal for this time of year; none of us expected so much rain at this time," Mayor Marcelo Crivella told an early morning news conference.
People react at the site of a mudslide, after heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
The mayor's office declared a state of emergency on Monday night. Major roads were closed, and the mayor's office said 785 places were without power.
Emergency services acted to rescue people trapped in cars and on the streets. TV images on Tuesday showed divers examining a car submerged in a flooded underpass.
Rio's streets were quieter than usual on Tuesday, as nearly all schools shut and people worked from home to avoid the risk of being trapped at work.
People and rescue workers are seen at the site of a mudslide, after heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
It was the second major storm in two months to batter Rio. A violent tempest that hit the city in February killed at least seven people.
(Reporting by Pedro Fonseca and Rodrigo Viga Gaier in Rio de Janeiro; Additional reporting by Gabriel Stargardter in Rio and Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
Rescue workers carry away bodies at the site of a mudslide, after heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesA bus is seen underneath trees uprooted by heavy rains in the Leblon neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes A truck stuck at a flooded street during heavy rains in the Fazenda Botafogo neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesRescue workers run towards the site of a mudslide after heavy rains, at the Babilonia slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar OlivaresRescue workers are seen at the site of a mudslide after heavy rains, at the Babilonia slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar OlivaresA relative of a missing person cries at the site of a mudslide after heavy rains, at the Babilonia slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar OlivaresA boy plays on a flooded channel during heavy rains in the Fazenda Botafogo neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesPeople look at the site of a mudslide after heavy rains, at the Babilonia slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar OlivaresBoys are pictured at a flooded channel during heavy rains in the Fazenda Botafogo neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ricardo MoraesFirefighters work at the site of a mudslide after a heavy rain at the Babilonia slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Pilar OlivaresA man looks out the bus window during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA truck is seen stuck on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA truck is seen stuck on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA car is seen submerged during heavy rains in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA car is seen stuck on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA man rides a motorbike on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA man rides a motorbike on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA car is seen stuck during heavy rains in the Gavea neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA car carrier truck transports a car during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA car is seen stuck on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Gavea neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA traffic jam is seen on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesResidents walk holding onto a fence next to a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA traffic jam is seen on a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesResidents walk holding onto a fence next to a flooded street during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesPeople walk at the Niemeyer avenue during heavy rains near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA taxi is seen in the entrance of Niemeyer avenue during heavy rains near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA tractor works at the Niemeyer avenue during heavy rains near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesThe collapsed area of a cycle lane is seen during heavy rains at Niemeyer avenue near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesThe entrance of Niemeyer avenue is seen during heavy rains near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. The sign reads: "Niemeyer anevue closed." REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA man walks next to the collapsed area of a cycle lane during heavy rains at Niemeyer avenue near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesA tractor is seen during heavy rains at Niemeyer avenue near Sao Conrado beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Sergio MoraesPeople are seen on a street filled with mud during heavy rains in the Jardim Botanico neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil April 9, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Landau
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