Almost 200 dead in Brazil landslides, rain

The number of people killed after landslides and flooding in the Brazilian city of Petropolis has risen to at least 198.

Some 68 people are still missing and 1000 were left homeless following heavy rainfall in the city, located in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state.

The search for victims is repeatedly hampered by wind and persistent rain. On Tuesday evening, streets in Petropolis were flooded again.

Last week, the city saw more rain in six hours than had been forecast for all of February, according to TV weather station Climatempo.

Rio de Janeiro and the surrounding region are frequently hit by heavy rains in the months of January, February and March.

In 2011, more than 900 people were killed in a disastrous storm in the region, which includes Petropolis.