Historic rains leave at least 22 dead and dozens missing in Brazil
At least 22 people have died, dozens remain missing, and more than 400 have been displaced after heavy rains battered southeastern Brazil, officials in Minas Gerais reported Tuesday. Civil Defense and the state Fire Department said rescue teams are actively searching for at least 45 missing individuals, including several children, as flooding and landslides continue to affect the region.
The city of Juiz de Fora has suffered the most, with authorities confirming 16 deaths after the Paraibuna River overflowed and landslides buried entire homes. Mayor Margarida Salomão declared a state of public calamity, calling the situation “extreme” following the city’s rainiest February on record, which brought up to 23 inches of rainfall. Six more deaths were reported in Ubá, roughly 68 miles away, where rising waters caused critical infrastructure failures. Streets have turned into rushing rivers, and neighborhoods remain cut off, with about 440 people housed in temporary shelters.
Emergency crews are using heavy machinery and boats to reach areas buried under mud, while municipal schools have suspended classes indefinitely for safety. The Fire Department reported responding to more than 40 emergency calls in just a few hours, dealing with blocked roads, stranded residents, and damaged homes. Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet) has issued a red alert, warning that rainfall through Friday could exceed 2.4 inches per hour or 3.9 inches per day, accompanied by winds of 37 to 62 mph across Minas Gerais, Bahia, São Paulo, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro. The alert level signals a high risk of serious disruptions.
Extreme weather events have increasingly affected Brazil in recent years, particularly in the south and southeast, where much of the country’s population lives.
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