Floods kill at least 6 in southern Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO – At least six people have died and at least one more was missing Sunday following torrential rains in southern Brazil, authorities said.

Meteorologists said nearly 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain devastated parts of Espiritu Santo state starting Friday, though the rains had tapered off by Sunday.

State firefighters reported three dead in the town of Alfredo Chaves and three others in Iconha, where at least one woman was missing. Rescue workers were using dogs Sunday to search for more possible victims.

The flooding destroyed three bridges, left cars piled up, trees toppled and houses covered in mud.

“Nothing like this has ever happened. In Iconha, the impact of the amount of water that fell was as if a dam had broken overhead,” said Victor Muñiz, a communications advisor for the state fire department.