At least three people were killed in a violent storm in Rio de Janeiro's neighborhoods and favelas

At least three people died between Monday evening and Tuesday morning in Rio de Janeiro due to torrential rains that caused floods and landslides.

The rains started Monday afternoon – taking by surprise the population returning from work – and continued Tuesday morning, but with less intensity.

A motorcyclist was dragged by the current in the district of Gávea and two other women died victims of a landslide in the favela of Babylon, in the district of Leme, next to the tourist Copacabana.

The most affected region was the southern zone, where wealthy neighborhoods like Ipanema, Copacabana and Botafogo mingle with favelas built on the slopes of the hills.

In the neighborhood of Copacabana, they fell 245 mm of water in a few hours, while the expected average for the whole month was 95 mm, according to the TV Globo.

Niemeyer Avenue, which connects the neighborhoods of Leblon and Barra da Tijuca, was cut on Tuesday, according to the latest report from the Civil Defense, which ordered the population to stay at home.

On Monday night, local television showed how some southern streets were flooded and water dragged cars, pavers and pieces of asphalt.

The mayor of the town, Marcelo Crivellasaid Tuesday that the large volume of rain was unexpected and pointed to the lack of federal resources to reorganize people living in areas at risk.

"Many houses in the city of Rio are built in inappropriate areas, in places where water flows. It's a tragedy and we tried to alert people, "he said.

Crivella reported that emergency sirens have been activated at least 15 favelas for people to go to shelters before the risk of landslides. In Babilonia, where two people died, the meters did not record the amount of rain needed to set off the alarm, the mayor said.

It's the second storm with deaths in Rio de Janeiro so far this year. In February, torrential rains and high winds killed six people and left the city in crisis.