27 people confirmed dead in Brazilian mudslides

RESCUE workers sifted through tons of thick brown mud and rubble yesterday with little hope of finding survivors of mudslides that left 27 confirmed dead and more feared buried in the central state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Torrential rains swept through the state early on Thursday, leaving 70 people injured and more than 7,000 unable to return to their homes, according to the civil defence unit.

So far, 2,426 homes have been destroyed in the mudslides, many built precariously in hillside shantytowns. Dozens more were at risk of collapsing as heavy rains continued across the area, authorities said.