Heavy rains in Petropolis, Brazil, triggered landslides that left hundreds dead or missing on Tuesday, February 15, according to local officials.

Rainfall that hit the mountain city on Tuesday afternoon alone was more than the historical average for the whole of February, according to the Civil Defense of Rio.

Brazil's Civil Defense Secretariat said that 269 landslides had been recorded, CNN affiliate CNN Brasil reported. Floodwaters raced through hillside neighborhoods, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway.

People help rescue workers on the second day of efforts to find survivors and victims on Thursday, February 17.
People help rescue workers on the second day of efforts to find survivors and victims on Thursday, February 17.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
A person looks for survivors amongst the debris.
A person looks for survivors amongst the debris.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images
A bulldozer clears mud from a street.
A bulldozer clears mud from a street.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
A rescue worker takes a break in Petropolis.
A rescue worker takes a break in Petropolis.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
People sit on a set of stairs that remain intact.
People sit on a set of stairs that remain intact.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
People search through debris for survivors.
People search through debris for survivors.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Rescue workers from a fire department gather in Petropolis.
Rescue workers from a fire department gather in Petropolis.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Volunteers distribute donations to people in Petropolis on Wednesday, February 16.
Volunteers distribute donations to people in Petropolis on Wednesday, February 16.
Andre Borges/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Vehicles and debris are seen scattered in the road.
Vehicles and debris are seen scattered in the road.
Agência O Globo/GDA/AP
Men carry a body following a mudslide at Morro da Oficina.
Men carry a body following a mudslide at Morro da Oficina.
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
People embrace after fatal mudslides in Petropolis.
People embrace after fatal mudslides in Petropolis.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
Debris from a mudslide is seen in Petropolis.
Debris from a mudslide is seen in Petropolis.
Florian Plaucheur/AFP/Getty Images
People search through the rubble at Morro da Oficina.
People search through the rubble at Morro da Oficina.
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Rescue workers walk at a site of a mudslide at Morro da Oficina.
Rescue workers walk at a site of a mudslide at Morro da Oficina.
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
A woman inspects damage from mudslides in Petropolis.
A woman inspects damage from mudslides in Petropolis.
Antonio Lacerda/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Members of the fire services rescue team lift rubble to look for survivors.
Members of the fire services rescue team lift rubble to look for survivors.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images
A man observes damaged public buses at a river after pouring rains.
A man observes damaged public buses at a river after pouring rains.
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
A fire services rescue team helicopter flies over an area of a mudslide in Petropolis.
A fire services rescue team helicopter flies over an area of a mudslide in Petropolis.
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images