SAO PAULO, Jan. 23 (Reuters) - The death toll from floods and landslides that devastated the mountainous region of Serrana (near Rio de Janeiro) has now reached 803, said on Sunday the Brazilian authorities, while Rescue teams were still searching in the mud for hundreds of missing people. The disaster is the second largest in the history of Brazil, according to UN data published Sunday in the newspaper 'Estado de Sao Paulo', exceeded only by a meningitis outbreak that killed 1,500 people in 1974.Whole hillsides collapsed last week in the Serrana region, about 97 miles north of Rio, after the equivalent of a month of rain fell in 24 hours. The avalanche of mud and water swept mainly the poorest communities, leaving vehicles on top of buildings and burying families alive in their wake.
At least 207 people were reported missing this week, suggesting that the final death toll could approach 1,000. Local officials estimated there were at least 300 missing after the landslide, which also left thousands homeless. They are growing fears of an outbreak of disease in the area.
Alexandre Padilha, Minister of Health, visited Saturday the worst affected city, Nova Friburgo, and health authorities warned of the dangerous contact with contaminated river water.
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