RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Officials say flooding in northeastern Brazil has killed at least 20 people while driving 50,000 people from their homes
The Civil Defense department in the state of Alagoas says 10 people were killed there and 35,000 are homeless.
Also, flooding has cut communications with several cities where power has been knocked out and telephone service is down.
In neighboring Pernambuco state, officials say 10 have been killed and 15,000 displaced.
Pernambuco’s capital of Recife received 14 inches (36 centimeters) of rain in the last three days — the heaviest in three years.
In May 2009, flooding in the same area killed at least 44 people and displaced 380,000.
