At least 94 people have died after heavy rains triggered mudslides in the hilly town of Petropolis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, local government officials said on Wednesday.

The hilly town, just north of the city of Rio de Janeiro, is a popular tourist destination.

The town received a little more than 10 inches of rain (29 centimeters) in three hours on Tuesday destroying homes as everyday life ground to a halt.