Rio de Janeiro mudslide leaves 10 dead after boulder crushes houses

Local civil defence chief says families were warned to move to safer locations

Firefighters carry a body found under the debris (AP)

A mudslide near Rio de Janeiro has left at least 10 people dead and another 11 injured, according to the Brazilian authorities.

Roberto Robadey, Rio’s head of civil defence department, said Saturday’s mudslide in the nearby city of Niteroi was caused by heavy downpours.

He told Brazil’s Globo TV network the fatalities and injuries happened when a large boulder rolled on top of six houses in the Boa Esperanca neighbourhood.

“It rained a lot over the past two days and a state of alert was declared for Niteroi,” explained Mr Robadey.

“People were advised of the situation and were recommended to move to safer locations.”

Claudio dos Santos, president of the Boa Esperanca Residents’ Association, told the TV network that several families “refused to leave".

Residents and firefighters work to clear debris after a mudslide in Niteroi (AP)

Rescue workers spent Saturday searching for victims and survivors trapped under the debris and mud.

Rio’s fire department said the dead included a three-year-old boy, two elderly women and a middle-aged man.

It did not give any more information about the victims.

Rosemary Caetano da Silva, a resident of Boa Esperanca, told Globo TV that her eight-year-old granddaughter was buried underneath the rubble.

She also said she managed to rescue her grandson who was taken to a hospital.

Additional reporting by Associated Press