Around 100 people have died in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro after the most torrential rain for decades caused landslides¹ and flooding.

巴西城市里约热内卢遭遇近十年以来最大的一场暴雨，暴雨所引发的泥石流和洪水造成大约100人死亡。

chaos²="" in="" was="" city="" the="" said="" mayor="" s="" src="/upimg/100407/4_024957_1.jpg" />
Rio de Janeiro's mayor said the city was in chaos (Photo: Antonio Queiroz Junior)

A state of emergency has been declared and officials have warned the death toll³（死亡人数） may rise as many more are missing.

At least 33 people died in Rio de Janeiro city after 28cm (11in) of rain fell in 24 hours, while 33 were killed in the neighbouring city of Niteroi.

Many houses Rio's hillside（山坡，山腰） shanty⁴（棚屋） towns were buried under mudslides.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged residents to leave their homes if they are at risk of flooding.

Chaotic⁵ situation

Authorities say Rio's transport system is close to collapse⁶, after traffic ground to a halt（停止，休息） with many streets under water.

"The situation is chaos," Mayor Eduardo da Costa Paes said in a statement on Tuesday. "All the major streets of the city are closed because of the floods."

"Each and every person who attempts to enter them will be at enormous risk," he warned.

Mr Paes said the preparedness for heavy rainfall in Brazil's second-largest city - which will host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games - was "less than zero".

State governor Sergio Cabral meanwhile declared a state of emergency and urged people in high-risk areas to leave their homes.

He told TV Globo that to stay inside would be "irresponsible" given the risk of new landslides.

"The situation is chaos," Mayor Eduardo da Costa Paes said in a statement on Tuesday. "All the major streets of the city are closed because of the floods."

"Each and every person who attempts to enter them will be at enormous risk," he warned.

Mr Paes said the preparedness for heavy rainfall in Brazil's second-largest city - which will host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games - was "less than zero".

State governor Sergio Cabral meanwhile declared a state of emergency and urged people in high-risk areas to leave their homes.

He told TV Globo that to stay inside would be "irresponsible" given the risk of new landslides.