Floods ravage Minas Gerais, killing 36 as rescuers race to find dozens missing

Floods and landslides in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state have killed at least 36 people, and dozens remain missing

JUIZ DE FORA, Brazil -- Dozens are still missing in southeastern Brazil on Wednesday after floods killed at least 36 people in the state of Minas Gerais, officials said Wednesday. Rescue teams worked through the night, as heavy rain is expected in the region in the next few days.

All the victims found so far are in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 310 kilometers (192 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro.

Minas Gerais's fire department said 33 people were still missing and about 3,000 residents had been forced to leave their homes as of Wednesday morning.

The streets of Juiz de Fora, a city of 560,000 residents, were covered in mud as authorities feared more landslides. Life in neighboring Uba, with its 107,000 residents, came to a stop. Classes were suspended in both cities, their mayors said.

Juiz de Fora's City Hall said in a statement that around 600 families living in endangered areas were about to be relocated to local schools improvised as shelters and that the city experienced double the rain expected for February. Mayor Margarida Salomão said at least 20 landslides had been reported since the torrential rain began Monday evening.