Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state was on maximum alert after a burst dam caused thousands to evacuate after towns flooded.
Heavy rains displaced 35,000 residents and are forecast to continue.
Intense water pressure caused a road, which runs over the dam's wall to crack open cutting off part of the city.
The army has deployed teams to help evacuate residents and their most valuable belongings.
But not everyone was willing to leave their homes.
(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING(Portuguese):
"Last time I spent two months on top of my roof, but I will not leave because people will steal from me."
Rio governor said emergency teams were focused on vulnerable towns.
(SOUNDBITE) RIO DE JANEIRO'S GOVERNOR SERGIO CABRAL, SAYING (Portuguese):
"I want to stress that we are under a red alert, especially in the northern and northeastern regions, the mountainous region and the urban region of Rio de Janeiro state."
Last year, heavy rain caused mudslides in the Serrana region that killed around 900 people.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters
