13th January, 2011

Brazil mudslides kill at least 335, destroy towns

RIO DE JANEIRO — Driving rains sent tons of rusty red earth sliding into mountain towns, killing at least 335 people and leaving dozens more missing, Brazilian media reported Thursday.

Hillsides and river banks in the picturesque Serrana region north of Rio de Janeiro buckled under about 10 inches of rain — the equivalent of a month's rainfall in 24 hours — destroying houses and killing many people early Wednesday, rescue officials said.

[link to www.msnbc.msn.com]