Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—A massive landslide tore through a hillside neighborhood early Friday, leaving at least five people dead. Heavy, persistent rain triggered the collapse, which buried multiple homes under tons of earth and debris.

Local fire officials arrived shortly after the incident to begin the search for survivors. The saturated soil gave way without warning, catching residents inside their houses during the early morning hours.

Civil defense teams are currently managing the site, though unstable ground continues to hinder heavy machinery operations. Rescuers are relying primarily on manual tools to clear the path into the wreckage.

Residents in the area described a sudden roar followed by the sound of crumbling concrete. Several families were displaced as a direct result of the structural failure of the slopes.

Emergency shelters are being established at nearby municipal centers for those who lost their property. Authorities have issued warnings for other high-risk zones throughout the city as rain continues to fall.

The identity of the victims has not yet been released pending notification of kin. Local medical teams remain on standby at the base of the hill to provide immediate care to those pulled from the mud.

City planners have long warned about the precarious state of these hillside settlements. Rapid, informal development on steep terrain creates recurring hazards whenever seasonal storms hit the region.

Engineers are surveying the remaining structures to determine if further evacuations are required. The recovery process will likely stretch well into the night as the rain shows little sign of stopping.