Death toll mounts from Brazil downpours as search continues

Torrential rains in northeastern Brazil have left at least 56 people dead and dozens missing, civil defense officials said Sunday, as rescuers capitalized on a lull in downpours to search for survivors.

"As of this Sunday, 56 people were confirmed dead, and another 56 remain missing in the municipalities of Recife and Olinda," in Pernambuco state, the civil defense said in a statement, adding that a further 3,957 people had lost their homes.

The disaster is the latest in a recent series of deadly landslides and floods triggered by extreme weather in Brazil.

The number of dead has mounted steadily over the weekend, with at least 28 killed in landslides, as heavy rains caused rivers to overflow and torrents of mud swept away everything in their path.

Authorities warned that heavy rain was forecast to continue Sunday, but the storm subsided in the morning.

As the weather broke, some 1,200 personnel -- some in boats or helicopters -- resumed search and rescue work, state officials said. But Minister of Regional Development Daniel Ferreira urged caution in a press conference earlier Sunday in Recife, the capital of hard-hit northeastern Pernambuco state.

"Although it has stopped raining now, we are forecasting heavy rains for the next few days," he said. 

"So the first thing is to maintain self-protection measures."

Between Friday night and Saturday morning, rainfall volume reached 70 percent of what was forecast for all of May in some parts of Recife.