Victims toll up to 116 as families begin burials

The death toll from floods and landslides that swept down on the mountain city of Petropolis rose to at least 113 on Thursday and local officials said it could still rise sharply, with more than 116 people still unaccounted for.

The Rio de Janeiro state government confirmed the rising loss of life hours after local police announced 134 people are missing. As some people tried to clear away mud, others began burying lost relatives, with 17 funerals at the damaged cemetery.

The state fire department said over 10 inches of rain fell within three hours on Tuesday -- almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined. Local authorities have said that almost 400 people were left homeless and 24 people were recovered alive.