The death toll from floods and landslides in Brazil rises to 204

The death toll from floods and landslides in the Brazilian city of Petropolis has exceeded 204, while rescue teams continue to search for dozens of missing people after a week of violent storms.

According to the latest police report, 204 people, 124 women and 80 men, died in the floods and landslides, while 51 people are still missing.

The number of the missing has gradually decreased in recent days after the bodies were identified or survivors were found.

Also, more than 800 people were forced to leave their homes located in dangerous areas, and were evacuated to shelters where they are still staying.

The level of rain that fell on the tourist city of Petropolis within hours on February 15 exceeded the usual rate for the whole of February, which is the largest rainfall recorded since 1932.

The latest storm turned the streets of Petropolis into rivers that washed away trees, cars and buses and caused deadly landslides in slums on the hillsides that surround the city of 300,000.

In the past three months, more than two hundred people have died in strong storms, mainly in São Paulo (southeast) and Bahia (northeastern).