Torrential rains that turned avenues into rivers have killed at least 11 people in Brazil, writes Al Jazeera.

The storm hit northern parts of Rio de Janeiro particularly hard, the Fire Department said on Sunday. People in the area died in landslides, drownings and electrocutions.

Firefighters were still searching for a woman who went missing after her car fell into a river as of Sunday evening.

Water from the storm reached the roofs of cars on some stretches of Avenida de Brasil, a major thoroughfare in the city.

Mayor Eduardo Paes decreed the situation an “emergency” and urged people to stay at home for their own safety and to avoid disrupting rescue and recovery efforts.

A dozen bus lines shut down and several metro stations were closed because of water on the tracks.