Death toll from Rio storm hits 175

Among the dead were 100 from the city of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro's metro area.

According to Rio's fire department, the death toll might rise. The Morro do Bumba area, which has about 200 inhabitants, was hit by mudslides, but rescue teams only found 13 bodies and 60 people alive.

Colonel Paulo Machado, head of the fire department, saw little hope of finding more survivors, but insisted on continuing the rescue.

Jorge Roberto Silveira, mayor of Niteroi, declared a state of calamity on Thursday. The entire Rio de Janeiro state has been in official mourning since Tuesday.

The severe floods and muslides caused by the storm have injured 161 people and left some 15,000 people homeless. About 3,200 homeless were taken to shelters in churches and schools, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.