Officials feared that many more were dead, buried in landslides or washed away by gushing waters. Mud rushed down hillsides and into towns and cities in Rio de Janeiro state, as murky brown rivers cut through lush landscape.

President Dilma Rousseff flew over the affected areas on Thursday and landed in a slushy, trash-littered soccer field in the city of Friburgo, the official Agencia Brasil news agency said.

Brazilian authorities have been criticized for a lack of disaster planning and allowing people to build homes in areas known to become treacherous in the rainy season.

With more rains forecast, Brazilian authorities have ordered evacuations for at least 5,000 families living in especially perilous areas in Rio de Janeiro state, Agencia Brasil said. Another 3,000 families from a mountainous region were homeless and sheltered in schools and gymnasiums, the news agency said.

Rescue operations by ground and air continued Thursday but collapsed roads and bridges made it difficult for rescuers to reach some areas.

The weather also caused delays and cancellations of flights at major Brazilian airports, Agencia Brazil said.

The deluge in this part of Brazil began with the new year and rain is predicted to continue until the end of the week.