Brazil has been devastated by heavy rainfall since Monday, with torrential downpours causing rivers to overflow and trigger widespread flooding. Several houses have been swept away in the deluge.
According to the BBC, at least 25 people have died and 39 others have been injured so far.
Minas Gerais worst affected
Severe flooding was reported in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state after a river overflowed its banks. The highest number of deaths has been recorded in the Juiz de Fora area, where 18 people have died. Another seven fatalities were reported in the Uba area.
Houses were swept away overnight, and several people remain missing. Government sources said that more than 200 people have been rescued so far.
Emergency declared in Juiz de Fora
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and confirmed that a state of emergency has been declared in Juiz de Fora. Fire brigade and disaster response teams are conducting joint search operations in affected areas.
Fire department official Maj Demetrius Goulart stated that 12 houses in the hilly regions of Juiz de Fora collapsed due to severe landslides. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate missing residents.
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Record rainfall and widespread impact
Juiz de Fora Mayor Margarida Salomão reported that 584 millimetres of rainfall were recorded over two days. She said more than 500,000 residents of Juiz de Fora have been affected. All schools in the area remain closed.
Brazil experienced a similar natural disaster in 2024, when more than 200 people lost their lives. At the time, officials described it as one of the most devastating natural calamities in the country’s history.
