Brazil Mudslide Death Toll Is at 117, Police Say 116 Missing

An aerial view shows neighborhood affected by landslides in Petropolis, Brazil, on Feb. 16, 2022. Silvia Izquierdo/AP Photo

PETROPOLIS, Brazil—The death toll from floods and landslides that swept down on the mountain city of Petropolis rose to at least 117 on Thursday and local officials said it could still rise sharply, with 116 more still unaccounted for.

The Rio de Janeiro state government confirmed the rising loss of life, with many feared buried in mud beneath the German-influenced city nestled in the mountains above the city of Rio de Janeiro.