Mudslides kill several in north Sao Paulo state

Brazilian authorities said on Sunday that at least 19 people died in several cities in north Sao Paulo state amid floods and landslides, and this number could still rise. The cities of Sao Sebastiao and Bertioga, two of the hardest hit, cancelled their Carnival festivities as rescue teams struggle to find missing, injured and feared dead in the rubble.

Sao Paulo state government said in a statement that precipitation in the region has surpassed 600 millimeters in one day, one of the highest amounts ever in Brazil in such a short period. Bertioga alone had 687 millimeters during that period, the state government said. Gov. Tarcisio de Freitas said in a statement he requested support from the army, which will send two airplanes and rescue teams to the region. He issued a public calamity decree for the other cities.