Landslides, floods kill at least 56 in northeast Brazil

By Diogo Duarte

RECIFE, Brazil (AA) - Landslides caused by heavy rains killed at least 56 people, leaving hundreds displaced in the metropolitan region of Recife, the capital of northeastern Pernambuco state of Brazil.

According to a message posted on Twitter by the Federal Civil Defense service, 56 people had died in the northeastern state of Pernambuco and one died in the neighboring state of Alagoas.

"The Government of Brazil is monitoring the situation of Pernambuco and other states affected by heavy rains and floods in the Northeast region of the country. Technical aid was sent to the affected cities to provide the needed assistance to local authorities," the Government of Brazil said on Twitter.