Brazil mudslides death toll rises as survivors speak of horror

WALLS of earth and water swept away homes in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro, wiping out families and leaving survivors scrambling yesterday to reach trapped neighbours.

At least 350 people died in three towns after the slides hit at about 3am on Wednesday, and 50 or more were still missing, according to officials and reliable local news reports.

“We were like zombies, covered in mud, in the dark, digging and digging” after the slides hit, said Geisa Carvalho, 19.