RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Torrential rains doused Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, killing at least six people and sowing chaos in Brazil’s second largest city, which declared a state of emergency after a storm that the mayor described as “absolutely abnormal.” A woman and her 7-year-old granddaughter were buried in a mudslide as they rode in a taxi, and the driver’s body was also found inside the vehicle, police detective Valeria Aragao told O Globo newspaper. Two adult sisters died when their home in a slum was buried in a mudslide, while a man drowned in another part of the city, the mayor’s office said in a statement. The rains began around Monday evening and had not let up by midday Tuesday, with a heavy downpour forecast through the end of the day. More than 34 cm (13 inches) of rain fell on parts of the city in the last 24 hours, according to the mayor’s office. Videos on local news showed normally calm residential streets turned into raging torrents that dragged people and cars. A coastal bike path meant to be a legacy of the 2016 Olympics that had been weakened by previous storms suffered more damage, with chunks of the path falling into the sea. “These rains are absolutely abnormal for this time of year; none of us expected so much rain at this time,” Mayor Marcelo Crivella told an early morning news conference. The mayor’s office declared a state of emergency on Monday night. Major roads were closed, and the mayor’s office said 785 places were without power. Emergency services acted to rescue people trapped in cars and on the streets. TV images on Tuesday showed divers examining a car submerged in a flooded underpass. Rio’s streets were quieter than usual on Tuesday, as nearly all schools shut and people worked from home to avoid the risk of being trapped at work. It was the second major storm in two months to batter Rio. A violent tempest that hit the city in February killed at least seven people.<doc-sep>Advertising Read more Rio de Janeiro (AFP) Flash floods caused by torrential rain killed at least three people in Rio de Janeiro, officials said Tuesday, as emergency workers raced to rescue people trapped in buses, cars and buildings. Heavy rain overnight inundated parts of the city, turning some streets into raging rivers, toppling trees and sweeping away cars as the state emergency agency declared a crisis. The southern zone of the city, which includes Copacobana, Ipanema and Leblon as well as several favellas, was the hardest hit. A man was killed after he was caught in flooding, while two women died when a house in a favella collapsed, Rio de Janeiro mayor Marcelo Crivella told reporters. At least one person is missing, G1 reported. "Many houses in Rio are built in areas that are inappropriate, in places where water flows. It´s a tragedy and we have tried to warn these people," Crivella said. Schools throughout the city were closed and power was knocked out in some areas. Crivella told Globo TV that the downpour had been "atypical". Heavy rain often causes flash flooding in Rio de Janerio as the volume of water overwhelms the city´s creaky infrastructure and brings traffic to a halt. Impoverished favelas spread across hills throughout the city are usually the hardest hit. Torrential rain in February killed six people in Rio de Janeiro. ? 2019 AFP<doc-sep>Authorities in Rio de Janeiro say heavy rains have flooded many parts of the city and caused at least three deaths. Rio's mayor Marcelo Crivella says the Brazilian city is in a stage of "crisis." Schools are closed Tuesday and he's asking people to stay home if possible. City officials say 6 inches (152 millimeters) of rain fell in four hours Monday night, more than the average for the whole month of April. Sirens rang in at least 21 flood-risk areas of the city, alerting people to make their way to pre-established safe spaces. Torrents of water have been gushing down some streets, sweeping up cars and uprooting trees. The fire department says two women died in a mudslide, while a third person drowned.<doc-sep>School children had to be rescued by boats after being trapped inside school vans for more than four hours. By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Six people have been found dead so far after the fierce rainstorm that came down on Rio de Janeiro yesterday, according to officials. Two of the victims lived in Morro da Babilônia, a favela in Leme. A third confirmed death was of a man who fell off a motorcycle and was dragged under a parked car in Gávea. According to firefighters, the man was unable to get out from under the vehicle due to the rushing water and drowned. Two adults and a minor were buried in a . . . To read the full NEWS and much more, Subscribe to our Premium Membership Plan. Already Subscribed? Login Here<doc-sep>
Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Torrential rain left seven people dead in Rio de Janeiro, officials said Tuesday, as emergency workers raced to rescue people trapped by the downpour and clean-up efforts got under way. Heavy rain that began Monday evening and continued into Tuesday triggered flash floods, turning some streets into raging rivers, toppling trees and sweeping away cars as the state emergency agency declared a crisis. The southern zone of the city, which includes Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Leme as well as several impoverished favela areas, has been hardest hit. Heavy runoff from neighboring hills gushed through some apartment buildings and shops, leaving behind mud and debris. The bodies of three people were found in a car buried behind an upmarket shopping center on Tuesday afternoon, while two women died when a house in a favela collapsed, the Fire Department said in a statement. One man died after he was electrocuted in a house, while another was caught in a torrent of water. Cars and buses were crushed by fallen trees, and pavement was ripped up by the force of the water. Many people returning home Monday evening or trying to go to work on Tuesday were drenched as they waded through knee-deep water in the relentless downpour. Some people climbed fences to avoid flooded streets, while others tied plastic bags around their feet to protect themselves from the polluted water. Beaches normally packed with people sunbathing or playing sports were empty as brown water flowed into the ocean. "Many houses in Rio are built in areas that are inappropriate, in places where water flows. It´s a tragedy and we have tried to warn these people," Rio de Janeiro mayor Marcelo Crivella told local media. Schools throughout the city suspended classes and power was knocked out in some areas as heavy rain complicated rescue and clean-up efforts. Crivella said the downpour had been "totally atypical." Rio de Janeiro state governor Wilson Witzel expressed sympathy for the "families of the victims" on Twitter. Story continues "The whole state is helping in what is necessary," he said. Heavy rain often causes flash flooding in Rio de Janeiro as the volume of water overwhelms the city's creaky infrastructure and brings traffic to a halt. Favelas, which often lack proper streets and sanitation, are spread across hills throughout the city and are usually the hardest hit by downpours. Torrential rain in February killed at least six people in Rio de Janeiro.