A catastrophic weather event has struck Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and leaving 39 individuals unaccounted for following intense rainfall that triggered devastating floods and landslides. The cities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá, separated by approximately 110 kilometers, have borne the brunt of this natural disaster.
The state fire department has confirmed the casualties and initiated a large-scale emergency response operation involving 134 firefighters deployed across both municipalities. Their mission focuses on search and rescue efforts, providing immediate aid to affected communities, and stabilizing the critical situation.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed profound condolences through social media platform X, emphasizing the government’s priority to deliver humanitarian assistance, restore essential services, support displaced persons, and facilitate reconstruction efforts.
Juiz de Fora has reported approximately 440 residents displaced due to the catastrophic flooding and landslides. Municipal authorities have suspended school activities indefinitely due to unsafe conditions while specialized emergency teams continue their search operations.
Mayor Margarida Salomão characterized the situation as ‘critical,’ noting that February has become the wettest month in the city’s recorded history with precipitation levels exceeding double the monthly average. The local administration has declared a state of emergency to expedite access to federal resources and support.
The National Meteorological Institute (INMET) has issued severe weather alerts across 14 states, including entire territories of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. This crisis coincides with the peak of Brazil’s rainy season (December-March), which typically brings intense thunderstorms, flooding, and lethal mudslides.
Compounding the tragedy, continuous rainfall since Monday afternoon has saturated soils already weakened by previous precipitation, significantly increasing risks of additional flooding and landslides.
Local residents have expressed shock and grief. Jaqueline Teixeira, a Juiz de Fora resident, stated: ‘It was horrific; words cannot capture this tragedy. We can only pray for miracles and that those still alive will be found.’
Firefighter Gabriel Vitor, deployed in Juiz de Fora, emphasized the severity: ‘This remains a precarious scenario with many people missing. Through collective effort, we will eventually locate everyone.’
Emergency operations continue at full capacity with firefighters and civil protection services working to evacuate residents from high-risk zones while monitoring weather conditions for potential further developments.