At least another 200 people have been buried by a major mudslide near Rio deJaneiro in the aftermath of tragic flooding rain that inundated the Brazil'ssecond largest city early this week.At the time of this latest mudslide, which struck the city of Niteroi late onWednesday, the death toll was already pegged at more than 150 in and about Riode Janeiro. A security official reportedly said that the more than 200 peoplein Niteroi were likely killed instantly.
The flooding and mudslides began on Tuesday as torrential rain poured down.
As reported by CNN, the city's Mayor Eduardo Paes stated that a record-breaking11.3 inches of rain inundated the city within 24 hours on Tuesday.
People cross a flooded street in the SantaTeresa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. (APPhoto/Felipe Dana)
AccuWeather.com found an official rainfall observation that was taken at Rio deJaneiro's Galeao International Airport (information obtained from the WorldMeteorological Organization).The airport reported 6.42 inches of rain in 24 hours, ending at 2 p.m. EDTTuesday.
On Wednesday, rain continued to fall in the region, but not with thepersistence and intensity of earlier cloudbursts.
The Associated Press stated that most of the earlier victims perished in thecity's hillsides. The homes of the dead got buried by tons of mud and rubbleswept off slopes by the torrents of rain.
The weather in and about Rio will remain unsettled and showery through at leastSaturday. Although excessive rain is not likely, the earth will remainsaturated and unstable with potential for further mudslides, even withoutsignificant additional rainfall.
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