eight people, between them four children they died in a landslide afterwards the heavy rains in Manaus, northern Brazil, local authorities said today, as firefighters continue to search through the remains of buried houses.

“Three people were found alive and eight bodies were recovered, four adults and four children. The search will continue throughout the day.” reported the office of the governor of Amazon State, whose capital is Manaus.

According to the municipal authority, at least 11 houses were buried due to the landslide, in the popular neighborhood of Jorge Teixeira, which is built on the hillside to the west of the largest metropolis of the Amazon.

“There is still the possibility that people are missing, so we are continuing to search until we are sure that no one is.” under the ruins, Colonel Orleilso Jimenez Muniz, commander of the State Fire Service, told reporters from the scene.

According to him, 74 residents of the area had to be removed from their homes.

“It is a difficult place to access and (rescuers) have received help from the whole district to search for the missing,” said Gov. Wilson Lima, according to a statement.

“In Manaus, there are more than 1,000 areas like this (built into the hillside), including 62 that are at high risk”said Mayor David Almeida, promising investments to prevent natural disasters.

In February, landslides triggered by record rainfall killed at least 65 people in a coastal region of São Paulo State (southeast).

In Brazil, 9.5 million people live in areas at risk of floods and landslides. Experts cite the effects of climate change and uncontrolled urbanization as causes.