Torrential rains leave four dead in Rio

Torrential rains killed four people and left dozens homeless as roads were washed out and houses collapsed in Rio de Janeiro and surrounding cities, civil defence officials said today.

Geralda Gomes and her 10-year-old son Jefferson were killed Saturday night when a hillside gave way and buried their house in Cachoeiras de Macacu, a mountain city 55 miles north-east of Rio, the government news service Radiobras said.