Brazil flood disaster toll approaches 500

The death toll from mudslides and flooding in Brazil reached 480 on Thursday as rescue teams recovered more bodies of victims from what is seen as the country's worst natural disaster, unleashed by ongoing heavy rains.

In the mountainous region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, there were a total of 397 deaths Wednesday.

The hardest-hit cities were Teresopolis, with at least 208 deaths, and Nova Friburgo, with 214. In Sumidouro, 17 bodies were recovered Thursday, and authorities confirmed 39 deaths in the historic city of Petropolis, mostly in Cuiaba Valley, home to luxurious holiday retreats.

After a helicopter flyover and visit to some of the affected areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro, President Dilma Rousseff, in her second week in office, vowed to cut bureaucracy that could hinder prompt delivery of federal funding and aid for overwhelmed state and local officials.

Noting the speed and force of flooding that caused "mountains to dissolve," Rousseff criticized reckless development in affected areas, where mudslides and swollen rivers washed away homes and commercial properties, many of which have gone up in recent decades without proper zoning and building codes.

"It's not only a natural disaster, but a problem also caused by irregular land occupation," Rousseff said, adding the government needed to provide better oversight. "Housing in risky areas has become the norm in Brazil, and no longer the exception."