The death toll from mudslides and floods in Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil has risen to 527, making it the country's worst-ever natural disaster. More bodies are expected to be found when the search resumes as rescuers and firefighters reach villages in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro cut off by the destruction of roads and bridges. The worst affected towns were Novo Friburgo, which had recorded 246 deaths, Teresopolis, with 223 deaths, and Petropolis, with 39 deaths, according to municipal officials. Another 19 fatalities were registered in the village of Sumidouro, north of Novo Friburgo. The number of dead surpassed the estimated 437 killed by mudslides in 1967 in Caraguatatuba in Sao Paulo state in what was previously considered Brazil's worst disaster, according to Brazilian media.