Death toll rises to 25 from heavy rains in southeast Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from heavy rainfall in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 25, with 45 people missing and hundreds displaced, local authorities said Tuesday.

The city of Juiz de Fora has been the hardest hit, with 18 fatalities, 41 individuals missing and 440 people homeless. February's cumulative rainfall reached 584 millimeters, doubling the historical average for the month and reaching a record high.

The downpours have triggered landslides, floods, and the collapse of homes in several neighborhoods.

In the nearby city of Uba, seven people died and four remain missing as a result of severe flooding.

The rains, which began Monday afternoon, are forecasted to continue in the coming days, keeping local officials on high alert. ■