At least 25 people have died in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais following heavy rains that triggered floods and landslides, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Rescue operations are ongoing as dozens remain missing, with the hardest-hit cities reporting widespread devastation.
The majority of the fatalities – 18 – were recorded in Juiz de Fora, a city approximately 130 miles north of Rio de Janeiro, while seven deaths were reported in Ubá, located roughly 68 miles away, according to the state fire department. Around 440 people have been displaced in Juiz de Fora alone, with the local government providing temporary shelter and requesting donations of essential supplies, including water, food, clothing and hygiene products.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared a “state of calamity” in Juiz de Fora, mobilizing the federal government to provide humanitarian assistance and support reconstruction efforts. “Our focus is to ensure humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, support for displaced people, and aid for reconstruction,” Lula stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The downpours, which began Monday evening, caused rivers to overflow and transformed streets into quick-moving currents. Specialized teams, comprising 141 officials – 113 in Juiz de Fora and 28 in Ubá – have been deployed to search for the 40 people missing in Juiz de Fora and the three missing in Ubá. Firefighter Gabriel Vitor, working in Juiz de Fora, described the situation as “precarious,” but expressed hope that collaborative efforts would lead to the discovery of those still unaccounted for.
Jaqueline Teixeira, a resident of Juiz de Fora, described the scene as “terrible,” stating, “words can’t describe how sad it is. Just ask God to uncover those who survived and to perform a miracle.” The city hall reported that February’s rainfall has already exceeded double the expected amount for the entire month, marking it as the rainiest February in the city’s recorded history.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology has issued heavy-rain alerts for parts of 14 states, including all of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, indicating the potential for continued severe weather conditions. The current flooding occurs during Brazil’s summer rainy season, which runs from December to March and is characterized by frequent intense downpours, thunderstorms, and the risk of landslides.
Mayor Margarida Salomão of Juiz de Fora declared three days of official mourning in memory of the victims, calling the tragedy the “saddest” moment of her five years in office. The city has not yet released detailed information regarding the identities of those who died.
