A sudden, heavy rainstorm flooded parts of Sao Paulo Thursday and added to an already elevated death toll, after the wettest summer in the region in more than six decades, officials said.
At least 73 people have died across Sao Paulo state since December 1, most of them in the city of Sao Paulo, according to a tally of civil defense cases compiled by media.
Thursday's storm flooded 34 zones in the city, while winds of up to 82 kilometers (51 miles) per hour brought down dozens of trees, the civil defense service said in a statement.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
A 72-year-old woman in a shantytown built in the neighborhood of Parque Santa Madalena was said by residents to have fallen into a swollen river and been swept away, along with six homes. Officials listed her as missing.
Television Bandeirantes showed images of roads underwater and buses stranded with passengers waving for help. People were also seen taking refuge on the roofs of cars.
Daily rains over the past three months have left many areas of Sao Paulo waterlogged. Three out of six dams supplying the city also have been filled to capacity, requiring the release of millions of tons of water.
