Rio de Janeiro storm: 10 killed in flash flooding and mudslides as Brazilian city battered by torrential rains

At least 10 people have been killed as torrential rains and flash flooding struck Rio de Janeiro.

Cars were swept away and trees uprooted as torrents of water gushed through streets in Brazil’s second largest city.

Mayor Marcelo Crivella said the city faced a "crisis" and warned heavy rains would continue.

A state of emergency has been declared after a storm the mayor described as “absolutely abnormal”.

Rio de Janeiro flash floods - in pictures

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Officials said six inches of rain fell in just an hour on Monday night, more than the average for the whole month of April.

Locals were urged to avoid roads and schools were closed on Tuesday as the deadly weather remained fierce.

Officials said their had been 10 deaths so far, including two adults and a child who were buried in a car by a mudslide.

Major roads were closed, and the mayor’s office said 785 places in the city were without power.

Dramatic pictures showed firefighters wading through knee-deep water to rescue those left stranded in flood water.

Alerts were issued in 20 flood-risk areas of the city and people were urged to make their way to safe locations.

Flood emergency: alerts have been issued across the city
AFP/Getty Images

Hillside slums are particularly vulnerable to mudslides.

City officials said more than 100 communities have been identified as having "high geological risks."

Cars were swept away in the torrential rains
REUTERS

The storm was the second major one to batter Rio in two months.

It comes after a violent tempest that hit the city in February killed at least seven people.

Agencies contributed to this report

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