Flooding from torrential rains has claimed at least 50 lives in Brazil and left many streets in parts of Rio de Janeiro under water.
The mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, where eight of the flood victims died, Eduardo Paes, urged residents to remain indoors and not to venture into the downtown area, where streets were impassable because of the water.
‘All the major streets of the city are closed because of the floods,’ Mr Paes said in a statement.
‘Each and every person who attempts to enter them will be at enormous risk,’ he warned.
Authorities closed schools and abandoned cars were partially submerged, while others had motorists still stranded inside.
Officials said floodwaters unleashed landslides in many areas of the hilly metro area of 16 million people, and flooding also wreaked havoc with air traffic, causing serious airport delays.
