At least 16 killed in southern Brazil landslide

USPA News - The death toll rose to sixteen after heavy rainfall caused a deadly landslide in southern Brazil, local authorities said Monday. The strong rainstorm struck southern Brazil since Sunday night, causing a landslide the Espirtu Santo neighborhood in Petropolis, located around 65 kilometers (40 miles) from the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Emergency teams pulled out a sixteenth body on Monday morning. After previous death tolls were placed at thirteen. The latest victim was not identified, but workers said she was a young female. Municipal Civil Defense authorities said 20 others were also injured, while 560 people were displaced, as emergency teams evacuated the area. However, with strong rains continuing into Monday night, search-and-rescue operations were postponed until Tuesday. Around 350 emergency workers have been operating in the area, but Petropolis mayor Rubens Bomtempo has ordered the assembly of an emergency task force of 500 others to bring aid to the affected areas. Bomtempo also issued three days of mourning and suspended classes in municipal schools.