Rio rocks for annual carnival

Even the pouring rain couldn’t put a damper on Brazil's famed Rio de Janeiro carnival as tens of thousands of revellers took to the streets, dancing to the sound of samba drums on the second day of the annual celebration.

Samba rhythms rose above the sound of intermittent rain showers, and many people wielded umbrellas as they fell in behind the “blocos” – as the informal street carnival groups are known.