Landslides kill at least 10

At least 10 people have been killed by landslides across two cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, state authorities have reported.

The Bethania district of the city of Ipatinga was the most affected by the mudslides caused by the rains.

The mayor’s office said 204mm (8in) of rain had fallen in Ipatinga on Sunday morning.

Landslides after heavy rains are not common during the rainy season, and neighborhoods built on steep slopes are the most affected.

The mayor of Ipatinga, Gustavo Nunes, declared a state of emergency.

At least 150 people have been left homeless in the city 570 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro.

The mayor said that the city was surprised by the heavy rains. “There was no time to prepare people,” according to Nunes.

At least nine people have been confirmed dead in Ipatinga, while another body was found half an hour to the north, in Santana do Paraíso.

As reported by the local media, two young people managed to escape alive from a house where five of their relatives died buried under the mud.

The municipal health center was also damaged by the landslides, as Health Minister Ipatinga said.

“At this moment, the health center is not in a condition to treat people and all the patients who were waiting to be transferred here have been moved,” said Walisson Medeiros.

He thanked the surrounding cities for their support.

The Governor of Mines, Romeu Zema, said he would visit the affected area later on Monday.