Brazil:Heavy rains, landslides kill scores in Petrópolis city

In Brazil, at least 110 people were killed in landslides and flash flooding at  Petrópolis city which is located in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro. Houses in hillside neighborhoods were destroyed and cars swept away as floodwaters raced through the city's streets. Search and rescue teams are combing the mud for survivors. Brazil's National Civil Defence said on Twitter 24 people had been rescued alive so far, with 94 confirmed deaths. Another 134 people are missing, according to the Civil Defense of Rio, and continued heavy rains that forced the evacuation of another neighborhood in the city on Thursday could cause that number to rise.  269 landslides had been recorded so far.

Nestled in the hills north of the capital Rio de Janiero, Petropolis, nicknamed the "Imperial City" for its popularity among Brazil's monarchy in the 19th century, is known for its palatial architecture, grand theaters and museums. On Wednesday, photos and footage showed swathes of the majestic city in ruins.  According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), since the 1960s, southern Brazil has experienced an increase in both the number of extreme rain events and the mean amount of rainfall. Brazil has seen a number of natural disasters in recent months.