More than 120 people killed in Brazil floods

The Brazilian state of Pernambuco in the north east of the country has been hit by torrential rain, causing flash floods. The floods have in turn caused landslides. Mountainous villages have been destroyed and bodies have been found buried up to three metres down in the mud.

Many of the settlements most severely affected have been poor neighbourhoods and shanty towns that are located on unstable slopes. Whole villages were swept away and rescuers struggled to get into the areas due to debris blocking off roads and unstable soil, making it difficult for any air rescue services to get to those most in need.

In the past year, hundreds of people have died as a result of flooding events. Many scientists have attributed the reoccurrence of significant flooding events to climate change, with warming atmospheric temperatures creating extreme rainfall events. However, it is also suggested that La Nina has contributed to the severity of these events.

For more on this news story, check out the articles from BBC news.