Mudslides in Brazil kill hundreds

A car, dragged inside a church by a mudslide, is seen in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011. Brazil will create a nationwide disaster-prevention and early-warning system following recent floods and landslides that killed more than 750 people in mountain towns north of Rio de Janeiro, government officials said Thursday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A resident comes down a house destroyed by a landslides, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, on January 20, 2011. More than a week after deadly floods and mudslides that killed at least 744 people, surviving residents in the Serrana mountain region near Rio wondered Thursday how they can ever return to normal lives. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

A dog from K9 de Creixell, a Spanish N.G.O., searches for landslide victims in a damaged home in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Thursday Jan. 20, 2011. Deaths from last week's mudslides rose to at least 727 and have left thousands homeless. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A girl receives a container of potable water from a soldier in the landslide affected Alto Floresta neighborhood in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday Jan. 19, 2011. Mudslides have destroyed entire communities, killed at least 700 people since Jan. 11 and left nearly 14,000 homeless. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

People salvage items from their homes after a landslide in the Alto Floresta neighborhood of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Wednesday Jan. 19, 2011. Mudslides have destroyed entire communities, killed at least 700 people since Jan. 11 and left nearly 14,000 homeless. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Red cross volunteers stack donated clothes at a relief center in Teresopolis, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 19, 2011. Brazilian officials Wednesday started moving thousands of people out of at-risk areas near Rio in a flooding disaster that has already left at least 727 people dead. Ten teams of civil defense and environment officials were evacuating residents in outlying areas of Nova Friburgo, the hardest-hit town, said their commander, Colonel Roberto Robadey. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Brazilian National Force rescue workers carry the body of a boy on the scene of a recent landslide, where seven people were found buried among debris in the neighbourhood of Jardilandia, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, on January 19, 2011. Brazilian officials Wednesday started moving thousands of people out of at-risk areas near Rio in a flooding disaster that has already left at least 727 people dead. Ten teams of civil defense and environment officials were evacuating residents in outlying areas of Nova Friburgo, the hardest-hit town, said their commander, Colonel Roberto Robadey. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

Residents unload supplies from an navy helicopter at Sumidouro, an area isolated due to landslides in Teresopolis, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. Brazil's army on Monday sent some 700 soldiers to help throw a lifeline to desperate neighborhoods that have been cut off from food, water or help in recovering bodies since mudslides killed at least 665 people. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A man washes a mannequin at a textile shop which products were destroyed by the recent floods at California neighbourhood, in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 17, 2011. The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Brazil rose to 640, as the military stepped up efforts to reach isolated communities near Rio. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

Slopes covered by mud are seen after landslide in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Brazil's army on Monday sent 700 soldiers to help throw a lifeline to desperate neighborhoods that have been cut off from food, water or help in recovering bodies since mudslides killed at least 655 people. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A local resident just rescued by helicopter from an isolated area cries as she holds her baby upon landing at a temporary air base in Itaipava, Petropolis, some 100 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 17, 2011. The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Brazil rose Monday to 640, as the military stepped up efforts to reach isolated communities near Rio. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

A view of a landslide in Conquista January 17, 2011. Rains that devastated a mountainous region north of Rio de Janeiro have killed at least 611 people, Brazil's Civil Defense agency said on Sunday, as forecasts of more storms and fears of disease outbreaks overshadowed rescue operations. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER SOCIETY)

People rest at a shelter set up for people displaced by landslides in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Brazil's army on Monday sent 700 soldiers to help throw a lifeline to desperate neighborhoods that have been cut off from food, water or help in recovering bodies since mudslides killed at least 642 people. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A worker stands at a blocked road after landslides in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Mudslides caused by days of steady rain have killed at least 600 in the area and left residents still stranded in remote, stricken villages. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

** EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT ** Rescue workers and residents recover the body of landslide victim Samara Coelho da Silva, 13, in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 17, 2011. Brazil's army on Monday sent 700 soldiers to help throw a lifeline to desperate neighborhoods that have been cut off from food, water or help in recovering bodies since mudslides killed at least 642 people. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

TOPSHOTS-Gravediggers carry the coffin of a victim of a landslide at a cemetery in central Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 17, 2011. The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Brazil rose Monday to 640, as the military stepped up efforts to reach isolated communities near Rio. AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA (Photo credit should read MAURICIO LIMA/AFP/Getty Images)

epa02534720 Isaura Martin dos Santos waits for medical attention in an emergency hospital in Campo do Coelho, Nova Friburgo, Brazil, 17 January 2011. The death toll from Brazil's weather catastrophe rose to 640 on 17 January as rescue teams continued to unearth bodies from rubble and mudslides, fire and rescue officials said. The disaster centres on the state of Rio de Janeiro, the hilly countryside around the city of Rio. EPA/Antonio Lacerda

Rescue workers search for victims after a landslide in Nova Friburgo January 16, 2011. Rivers of mud tore through towns this week in the mountainous Serrana region outside Rio de Janeiro, leveling houses, throwing cars atop buildings and leaving more than 13,500 people seeking shelter and aid. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

Paulo Rodrigues da Silva, left, reacts as he embraces a relative he found at a shelter for people displaced by landslides in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. Mudslides caused by days of steady rain have killed at least 600 in the area and left residents still stranded in remote, stricken villages. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Rescue workers get on a helicopter as they leave after searching for survivor and victims in an area affected by a landslide near Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. Mudslides caused by days of steady rain have killed at least 600 in the area and left residents stranded in remote, stricken villages.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

People affected by the recent landslides of mud and rock in Teresopolis, some 100 km from Rio de Janiero, receive drinking water on January 16, 2011. The Brazilian military took advantage of a break in the weather Sunday to send helicopters to remote areas near Rio hit by landslides and flooding that killed at least 610 people. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Ludmila Moura, 5, sits on a mattress at a shelter for people displaced by landslides in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, Ludmila was pulled out of her destroyed house by her father Marcelo Moura on the first night of heavy rains last Thursday. Mudslides caused by days of steady rain have killed at least 600 in the area and left residents still stranded in remote, stricken villages.(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

TOPSHOTS Residents flee Campo Grande neighbourhood, after the area was devastated by recent landslides of mud and rock, in Teresopolis, some 100 km from Rio de Janiero, on January 16, 2011. The Brazilian military took advantage of a break in the weather Sunday to send helicopters to remote areas near Rio hit by landslides and flooding that killed at least 610 people. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

A dog, \"Leao\", sits for a second consecutive day, next to the grave of her owner, Cristina Maria Cesario Santana, who died in the week's catastrophic landslides in Brazil, at the cemetery in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janiero, on Jan. 15. Brazilians braced for more rain on Saturday, fearing further landslides after walls of muddy water tore through towns and claimed some 550 lives in the country's worst flood disaster on record.

epa02530419 Local residents view several vehicles which are partially buried in Nova Friburgo town, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, 15 January 2011 after heavy rains hitting Rio de Janeiro for lastest several days. Emergency services resumed the rescue operation on 15 January. So far 549 people have died due to floods and the emergency. Brazilian Regional Goverment declared 15 January a 7-day official mourning period to pay tribute to the victims. EPA/ANTONIO LACERDA

A resident is reflected in a mirror at a destroyed house in Teresopolis, January 15, 2011. Rescuers uncovered more corpses buried under mud and wrecked homes in southeastern Brazil on Friday as the death toll from torrential rains and massive floods hit 540 people and looked certain to climb. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A house is seen buried in an area affected by mudslides in a favela named Floresta in Nova Friburgo, some 150 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 14, 2010. Days of flooding and mudslides have left thousands of people without homes and over 520 dead in southeast Brazil. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

A woman is helped by residents after being rescued from a landslide area in Teresopolis, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. A new and ominous rain began falling again Friday in mountain towns where mudslides and flooding killed at least 479 people, hindering rescuers' efforts to reach survivors even as relatives hauled the dead down the hills to freshly dug graves. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Residents talk after a landslide in Teresopolis January 14, 2011. Rescuers uncovered more victims buried under mountains of mud and wrecked homes on Friday as the death toll from torrential rains and massive flooding topped 500, Brazil's worst natural disaster in four decades. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos (BRAZIL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY DISASTER)

People mourn during the burial of a landslide victim in Teresopolis, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. A new and ominous rain began falling again Friday in mountain towns where mudslides and flooding killed at least 479 people, hindering rescuers' efforts to reach survivors even as relatives hauled the dead down the hills to freshly dug graves. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

An aerial view of a neighborhood partially destroyed by a landslide caused by heavy rains in Nova Friburgo, January 13, 2011. Rescue workers dug desperately for survivors on Thursday and struggled to reach areas cut off by raging floods and landslides that have killed at least 388 people in one of Brazil's worst natural disasters in decades. REUTERS/Shana Reis-Government of Rio/Handout (BRAZIL - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

epa02528141 A nurse receives medical attention after fainting in front of the Police station in which several bodies are being counted after the heavy rains in Teresópolis, Brazil, 13 January 2011. At least 394 people have died due to the rains which have intensified since Tuesday night. EPA/Antonio Lacerda

People bury victims of a landslide in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Thursday Jan. 13, 2011. At least 381 people died in Rio state towns after slides hit early Wednesday, and at least 50 people were still missing, officials said. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CAPTION \"AFP PHOTO/O Dia/Marcus Vini\" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ----- BRAZIL OUT ----- 6-month old baby Nicolas Guimaraes (C) is rescued from the wreckage caused by a mudslide in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro on January 12, 2011. Days of flooding and mudslides have left thousands of people without homes and over 500 dead in southeast Brazil. AFP PHOTO/O Dia/Marcus VINI (Photo credit should read MARCUS VINI/AFP/Getty Images)

epa02528423 Rescue team work in the zone affected by a landslide after heavy rains in the city of Nueva Friburgo, Brazil, 13 January 2011. At least 432 people have died after the heavy rains that affect the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. EPA/JADSON MARQUES

Roberta Machado Correia, who survived a landslide, attends the burial of a friend in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Thursday Jan. 13, 2011. At least 381 people died in Rio state towns after slides hit early Wednesday, and at least 50 people were still missing, officials said. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Rescue workers remove a live rabbit as they search for survivors inside a home destroyed by a landslide in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Thursday Jan. 13, 2011. At least 350 people have died after landslides hit early Wednesday, and 50 or more were still missing, according to officials. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

epa02526961 A view of damage in the municipality of Teresopolis, Brazil on 12 January 2011, after the heavy rains affect the state of Rio de Janeiro. Report state that the situation is considered critical as at least 170 people have died in the Brazilian state according to authorities. The most affected municipality is Teresopolis, where 89 people died. Rescue operations are still on going. EPA/ANTONIO LACERDA

People play in a flooded street in the center of the city of Franco da Rocha January 12, 2011. Floods and landslides devastated towns in a mountainous area near Rio de Janeiro, killing dozens of people and bringing the death toll on Wednesday from days of heavy rain in southern Brazil to at least 127. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker (BRAZIL - Tags: DISASTER)

Jan. 12, 2011 - Teresopolis, RJ, Brazil - Aerial view of landslides hit houses in Teresopolis, in the Brazilian southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro, on January 12, 2011. At least 270 people died due to the landslides and floods in Serrana region of the state. Photo: FABIO MOTTA/AGENCIA ESTADO/AE (Credit Image: © Fabio Motta/Agencia Estado/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Rescue workers search for victims after heavy rains caused mudslides in a low-income neughbourhood in Teresopolis, some 100 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 12, 2011. Authorities have stated that more than a thousand people have been left without homes and 71 lost their lives in Teresopolis alone. TOPSHOTS / AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

epa02526963 A view of damage in the municipality of Teresopolis, Brazil on 12 January 2011, after the heavy rains affect the state of Rio de Janeiro. Report state that the situation is considered critical as at least 170 people have died in the Brazilian state according to authorities. The most affected municipality is Teresopolis, where 89 people died. Rescue operations are still on going. EPA/ANTONIO LACERDA

People walk among debris after landslides at Caleme neighborhood in Teresopolis, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. Driving rains sent tons of rusty red earth sliding into Brazilian mountain towns, killing at least 287 people and leaving dozens more missing _ lives rescuers hoped to save as they resumed searches Thursday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

People stand on the porch of their home at the edge of landslide damage in the Caleme neighborhood in Teresopolis, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A rescue worker walks among debris after landslides at Caleme neighborhood in Teresopolis, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. Driving rains sent tons of rusty red earth sliding into Brazilian mountain towns, killing at least 287 people and leaving dozens more missing _ lives rescuers hoped to save as they resumed searches Thursday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Rescue workers search for victims after heavy rains caused mudslides in a low-income neughbourhood in Teresopolis, some 100 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 12, 2011. Authorities have stated that more than a thousand people have been left without homes and 71 lost their lives in Teresopolis alone. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

People walk next to debris and a damaged car after landslides in the Caleme neighborhood in Teresopolis, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

An aerial view shows damage caused to a street after heavy rains in Nova Frigurgo City on Jan. 12. Floods and landslides devastated towns in a mountainous area near Rio de Janeiro, killing dozens of people and bringing the death toll on Wednesday from days of heavy rain in southern Brazil to at least 127.

epa02527256 View of damages and floods in Teresopolis town, 91 km from Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil, on 12 January 2011. At least 237 people died in the mountainous region of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro in mudslides caused by heavy rain. Those deaths were in addition to 13 who died from weather-related causes earlier this week in the neighbouring state of Sao Paulo. Teresopolis, a city of 150,000 people some 100 kilometres from the city of Rio de Janeiro, was worst-affected, with 122 deaths mostly in mudslides or collapsed homes, media reports said. The Civil Defence earlier said 114 had died there. EPA/ROBERTO FERREIRA

epa02527034 Handout picture provided by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, on 12 January 2011, of firefighters rescuing a victim at Teresopolis town, 91 km away of Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil, after the heavy rains affected the state of Rio de Janeiro, where the situation is considered critical, according to authorities. At least 237 people have died in this Brazilian state according to authorities. The most affected municipality is Teresopolis, where 122 people died. Rescue operations are still ongoing. EPA/MARINO AZEVEDO / RIO DE JANEIRO STATE GOVERNMENT EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NO SALES

Survivors of the flooding take refuge in a gymnasium in Teresopolis, some 100 km from downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 13, 2011. Rescuers searched through layers of mud Thursday for survivors and bodies after freakishly heavy rains caused landslides and torrents to slice through three towns near Rio de Janeiro, killing at least 356 people. AFP PHOTO/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)