Rains swamp Rio de Janeiro, kill at least 8; schools closed, motorists stranded

Heavy rains swamp Rio, killing 8, halting traffic

RIO DE JANEIRO — Fourteen straight hours of rain have swamped Rio de Janeiro and killed at least eight people in the city.

Thousands of motorists have been stranded overnight on highways blocked by floods as more than 3 inches (7 centimeters) of rain fell.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes urged workers Tuesday to stay home and closed all schools. The future host city of the Olympics and football World Cup was still largely paralyzed at midmorning.

Public safety officials say eight people were killed in Rio because of the flooding and three more died in Rio de Janeiro state. Five also are missing in a mudslide.