Americas News
Up to 200 people buried by new mudslide in Brazil
Apr 8, 2010, 20:13 GMT
Rio de Janeiro - A new mudslide buried up to 200 people in the Brazilian town of Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro, with few chances of finding survivors, Civil Defence officials said Thursday.
The mudslide late Wednesday made matters worse in a rain-induced tragedy that has already caused 154 confirmed deaths in Rio and its surroundings since late Monday.
The latest mudslide affected a favela (slum) on Bumba hill, in Niteroi, some 13 kilometres from Rio. The mud buried scores of homes in the slum, which has grown up next to a rubbish dump, and the precise number of people who lived there is not known.
A 190-strong team of firemen and other rescue personnel managed to rescue 25 survivors from the rubble and to recover six bodies.
Civil Defence Undersecretary Pedro Machado said there were very few chances of finding more survivors.
'Based on our experience, the victims died instantly. It is very difficult to find anyone alive,' Machado said.
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