Heavy rain in Brazil forces thousands to flee homes

RIO DE JANEIRO: Flooding caused by heavy rain in southeastern Brazil has forced more than 9,000 people to flee their homes, civil defense officials said Saturday.

Officials in Minas Gerais state said in a press release that 44 municipalities have been declared to be in a state of emergency.

The heavy rain has destroyed 84 homes and damaged more than 2,000 buildings, while 400 people were left homeless, the state Civil Defense said.

The heavy rain has affected some two million people living in the area, officials said.

Two adults, a man and a woman, were killed in the floods on Tuesday, a death toll which was unchanged on Saturday.

At least 32 people have been injured, but no victims have been reported missing, officials said, adding that more rain is forecast for the weekend.