Severe floods kill 33 in southern Brazil

Rio De Janeiro: Severe floods in southern Brazil claimed at least 33 lives and forced 20,000 from their homes, emergency officials said on Monday.

Rescue teams are desperately scouring the area using helicopters and motorboats in search of survivors or victims stranded by the flood in the southern Catarina state.

Days of heavy torrential rain sparked mudslides that demolished several homes and cut off four towns.

At least 10 people died in Blumenau, where town officials declared a state of emergency late on Sunday. Seven more died in the town of Jaragua do Sul.

"The big challenge on Monday will be supplying the shelters with medicines and food," Blumenau Mayor Joao Paulo Kleinubing said on the website of the Civil Defense Agency.

Heavy showers began in the region on Thursday and were beginning to ease.