Brazil deluge toll hits 44 as search continues for missing

The death toll from flooding and landslides in Brazil’s southern state of Sao Paulo reached 44 on Tuesday as searches continued for dozens still missing. Most of the search was concentrated in the mountainous coastal municipality of Sao Sebastiao, where 43 deaths have been recorded.

Authorities are digging through the mud and clearing roads, but parts of the highway connecting Rio de Janeiro state with Sao Paulo’s port city of Santos are still blocked by landslides. Another road connecting the city of Bertiga to inland Sao Paulo remains completely blocked. Brazilian President visited the region on Monday and called for people living in the hillside areas to be relocated to safer regions.

According to the state government of Sao Paulo, around 7.5 tons of aid items including food, water and hygiene kits have already been distributed to the victims.