Deadly torrential rains hit Rio de Janeiro (BBC)

According to Brazilian media, over a dozen people have died as a result of heavy rains in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, which caused flooding and landslides.

Trapped in Brazil Floodwaters!
Parts of Brazil submerged in water after flash floods wreak havoc#Brazil #floods #storm #flashfloods #climatechange #viral #Weather #Climate #ClimateCrisis #Heavyrains #Environment #rain #alert #Brasil #RiodeJaneiro #BrazilFloods #Flooding pic.twitter.com/0uGYWEDzpe
— Doregama Viral (@DoregamaViral) April 2, 2022

The death toll now stands at 14, with at least five individuals still missing, according to G1 news on Saturday. According to reports, there are eight children among the dead.

Several children were killed in the landslides

El Financiero cited local officials detailing that a mother and six of her children have perished in the aftermath of the severe rain.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Tweeted Saturday that the federal government was sending military planes to assist with the rescue attempts in Rio de Janeiro.

🚨RIO DE JANEIRO FLOODS & LANDSLIDES 🇧🇷 Heavy rain hits Brazil, April 1st pic.twitter.com/BVPOgwl8mX
— #كابتن_غازي_عبداللطيف (@CaptainGhazi) April 2, 2022

In another Tweet, Bolsonaro stated the national secretary of civil defense and protection would be traveling to affected regions in the country.

According to Brazilian weather forecasts, the rain is not expected to halt in the coming days.

In February, torrential rains and ensuing landslides killed over 200 people in Petropolis, a Brazilian municipality located north of Rio de Janeiro.

A car submerged in water in Petropolis in February (Reuters)

In the Brazilian state of Bahia in December, 11,000 people were displaced due to flooding.