A powerful storm has claimed the lives of more than 10 people in southeastern Brazil, mostly in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro state, where authorities deployed rescue teams on Saturday to deal with “critical” conditions.

The flooding comes as Brazil, South America’s largest country, is reeling from a series of extreme weather events that experts say are becoming more likely due to climate change.

The Rio state government said the storm caused a house collapse in the city of Petrópolis, 70 kilometers (45 miles) inland from the capital, killing four people.

On Saturday morning, an AFP team witnessed the rescue of a girl who had been buried in the rubble for more than 16 hours.

Her father, who was found dead next to her, “heroically protected the girl with his body,” a neighbor and owner of a local bar told AFP.

“We are in pain but grateful for this miracle,” said Luis Claudio de Souza, 63.

Other deaths were reported earlier in Santa Cruz da Serra, where a man drowned when his truck plunged into a river. In Teresopolis, a resident was killed when his house collapsed; in Arraial do Cabo, someone was struck by lightning.

Further up the coast, in the state of Espírito Santo, officials reported four deaths.

In Sao Paulo state, two children were hospitalized for injuries suffered in the storm on Friday.

Late on Friday, Rio Governor Claudio Castro said the situation in Petrópolis was “critical” due to “heavy rains and the flooding of the Kitandinha River”.

heat wave

Dozens of soldiers with dogs were deployed to the scene and schools opened their doors to the displaced, the governor said.

About 90 people have been rescued alive since Friday, according to an announcement by an emergency committee made up of Rio government and civil defense officials.

Images in local media showed rivers, mud and debris rushing down hillsides in picturesque Petropolis, where memories of the catastrophic February 2022 storm that claimed 241 lives are still fresh.

A fire truck was dragged through the streets by water in the town of Mimoso do Sul.

Forecasts predict heavy rainfall will continue in Rio’s mountains and north on Saturday.

According to official estimates, Petropolis has recorded a height of 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in 24 hours, while other cities, such as Teresopolis and Maggi, have seen increases of more than 22 centimeters.

The National Meteorological Institute predicts a severe storm from Friday to Sunday, especially in Rio, with up to 20 centimeters of rain a day. Typically, the region receives 14 centimeters of rain throughout March.

Rio authorities declared an administrative holiday on Friday as the storm approached and urged people to stay home.

The storm follows a record-breaking heat wave, with humidity causing heat indexes to soar above 62 degrees Celsius (143 degrees Fahrenheit).

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