Heavy rains cause flooding in San Sebastiao, Brazil. (AFP photo)
The town of San Sebastiao, in the state of Sao Paulo, was one of the worst-hit localities, with up to 600mm of rain in 24 hours, twice the normal amount of rain in a month.
The governor of Sao Paulo state has declared a state of disaster, lasting 180 days, in 6 cities. The state government spends $1.5 million on rescue operations.