Mauricio Lima/Agence France-Presse – Getty Images

The hardest hit towns — Petrópolis, Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo — have been scenes of widespread devastation since last week. Residents walked dazed through the mud, searching for missing family members and what remains of their belongings. Communications, electricity and potable water were still lacking in several areas, leaving disaster experts to lament Brazil’s lack of preparedness for deadly rains, which they say are becoming more common.

The death toll climbed to 670 early Sunday, with nearly 14,000 reported homeless or having abandoned their homes, according to Rio de Janeiro State officials.

The tragedy around Rio was Brazil’s deadliest natural disaster. For much of its history, Brazil has been blessed like almost no other country of its size to be almost free of such calamities. Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, erupting volcanoes — none have proved threats to Brazil.

The New York Times

See pictures of the tragedy in the mountainous region of Petrópolis, Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo.

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