Rio de Janeiro - Heavy rain wreaked havoc in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, causing a mudslide that cut off the main tunnel linking the Brazilian city's north and south. An average of 180,000 vehicles go through the Reboucas Tunnel every day and its closing caused huge traffic jams across the city. Municipal Transport Secretary Arolde de Oliveira asked residents to stay at home or use public transport.
"Use the train and the underground. Rain is forecast for the whole day and the tunnel will remain closed, since it is risky even for workmen (to remove debris)," said De Oliveira. "The city is hostage to the rain."
City Public Works Secretary Eider Dantas said five mudslides since late Tuesday had left some 5,000 tonnes of debris in tunnels and there was a risk of more collapses.
Dantas said the Reboucas Tunnel, more than 2 kilometres long, could be closed for up to a week. He said work to clear the tunnel would begin after the rain stops.
Millions of Rio de Janeiro residents decided to skip work or school Wednesday and business sales only totalled about half the daily average, according to leaders of the sector.
The rain did not cause deaths or injuries and no one has been evacuated, Civil Defence authorities said.
Power was cut off in some neighbourhoods, causing further traffic jams as traffic lights did not work.
