Brazil mudslide victims rise past 600

Rains that devastated a mountainous region north of Rio de Janeiro have killed at least 626 people, Reuters reported.

Brazil's Civil Defence agency said fears of more storms and disease outbreaks are overshadowing rescue operations.

Nearly five days after rains sparked floods and massive landslides in one of Brazil's worst natural disasters, the death toll continues to rise steadily as rescuers dig up corpses buried by rivers of mud and reach more remote areas.

TV images showed rescue workers looking for people under mounds of debris, a task made difficult by more rain since Saturday.