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Reuters
MUDSLIDE BRAZIL.JPG
Reuters
World News

Pope Francis prays for victims of natural disasters in Brazil and Madagascar

by Reuters Journalist

Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the people affected in recent days by natural disasters in south-east Madagascar and in the Petropolis area in Brazil.

''May the Lord receive the dead in peace, comfort their families and support those who are helping'', Francis told a group gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly Angelus prayer.

Nearly 150 people have died in the Brazilian city of Petropolis after mudslides and floods hit the region this week.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday that the destruction in the mudslide disaster looked like the mountain city had been hit by a war.

"I saw intense destruction. It looked almost like there had been a war," Bolsonaro said after flying over the disaster in the town located in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro that was hit by torrential rainfall.

Police said on Thursday that more than 100 people were still missing, although other authorities believed the number to be closer to 35.

At least 14 people were killed in Madagascar this week by tropical storm Dumako, the state disaster relief agency said, as the island braces for another cyclone due to hit on Tuesday.

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