Deadly floods swamp Rio

Huge floods fuelled by 14 continuous hours of downpours brought chaos to Rio de Janeiro today leaving eight people dead.

Thousands of motorists were stranded overnight on blocked roads as more than three inches of rain fell.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes urged workers to stay home and closed all schools.

The city was still largely paralysed by 9am local time (1pm Irish time).

Public safety officials said eight people were killed in Rio because of the flooding and that three more died in Rio de Janeiro state.

Another five were missing following a mudslide.