Heavy floods leave at least 35 dead in Brazil

Authorities in Brazil say four people from the same family have died in a mudslide in the interior of Sao Paulo state, and civil defence officials say heavy flooding have killed at least 35 people and forced more than 30,000 out of their homes across the country.
Officials in the city of Jundiai said Thursday the four people, including two girls, died when their house collapsed because of a mudslide triggered by downpours.
The worst hit state is Minas Gerais, where civil defence authorities said on Thursday that 16 people either drowned or were buried in mudslides. More than 13,000 were forced to seek shelter. Heavy rains since Christmas in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo states have killed more than 20 people and left about 20,500 homeless.