Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state was on maximum alert after a burst dam caused thousands to evacuate after towns flooded.<br/> Heavy rains displaced 35,000 residents and are forecast to continue.<br/> Intense water pressure caused a road, which runs over the dam's wall to crack open cutting off part of the city.<br/> The army has deployed teams to help evacuate residents and their most valuable belongings.<br/> But not everyone was willing to leave their homes.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING(Portuguese):<br/> "Last time I spent two months on top of my roof, but I will not leave because people will steal from me."<br/> Rio governor said emergency teams were focused on vulnerable towns.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) RIO DE JANEIRO'S GOVERNOR SERGIO CABRAL, SAYING (Portuguese):<br/> "I want to stress that we are under a red alert, especially in the northern and northeastern regions, the mountainous region and the urban region of Rio de Janeiro state."<br/> Last year, heavy rain caused mudslides in the Serrana region that killed around 900 people.<br/> Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters
