In Brazil, heavy rains and floods have caused 260 deaths in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. According to CNN, the greatest damage was in a cluster of towns in a mountainous area northeast of the city of Rio where civil defense officials said 147 lost their lives during the last two days. That included 114 people reported killed in Teresopolis by a mudslide. Some 1,000 others were left without shelter and were being moved to a local gym centre and schools. Nearly 75,000 people were without power in the region as a result of the heavy storms. Teresopolis Mayor declared his city a natural disaster area. Meanwhile, in the state of Sao Paulo, at least 24 people died as heavy rain continued to batter parts of the state. Authorities said, it has been raining since January 1, and the deluge could continue until the end of the week.