Rescuers hunt survivors of Brazil flood

Rescuers are trying to find survivors in cut-off areas of south-eastern Brazil hit by deadly floods that have left more than 500 people dead, BBC News reported.

Relatives have been joining in the search but often only find the bodies of loved ones.

Heavy rain has brought massive mudslides down on several towns, where thousands have been made homeless.

Police say the number of dead is likely to rise further, but the disaster is already the worst the country has seen.

The death toll has surpassed that of mudslides in Caraguatatuba in Sao Paulo state in 1967 in which up to 430 people died.
President Dilma Rousseff visited and expressed solidarity with communities.

He said the state would care for the victims but added that stopping future tragedies would be a priority.

"We are here to guarantee that this moment of reconstruction will also be a moment of prevention."

Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral blamed local governments for allowing poor building and illegal occupations.

He said some rich mansions had been damaged but most of the victims were "humble people".

Cabral askeed people in risk areas to leave their houses and seek public shelter or in other families' homes.

According to media reports about 200 people are so far known to have died in Nova Friburgo, some 175 in Teresopolis and dozens more in Petropolis.