At least 30 people have died as a result of violent floods and landslides in southeastern Brazil, and this toll may rise. The most critical situation is in the state of Minas Gerais, where the disaster has destroyed dozens of homes in the towns of Juiz de Fora and Ubá. Rescue services are searching for 27 missing people, but hope of finding survivors under the mudslides is drastically fading. Local authorities have declared a state of natural disaster, and President Lula da Silva has promised immediate federal aid.

Record Death Toll

The number of confirmed fatalities has risen to 40, with most deaths recorded in the city of Juiz de Fora, which was hit by mudslides.

Extreme Rainfall

Over 580 mm of rain fell in the region, which is double the monthly norm and caused the Paraibuna River to overflow its banks.

Fading Hope for Rescue

Rescue services admit that chances of finding people alive under thick layers of mud and rubble after 48 hours are minimal.

Catastrophic rainfall that hit southeastern Brazil has led to one of the region's largest natural disasters in recent years. The latest data confirmed by civil defense indicates 40 deaths, with this toll still subject to change as 27 people are considered missing. The half-million city of Juiz de Fora suffered the most, where record rainfall of 584 liters per square meter was recorded. This is a dose twice the average for the entire month of February. Mayor Margarida Salomão declared a state of natural disaster, and schools have been converted into temporary shelters for thousands of people who lost their homes. The main cause of such a high number of casualties were violent mudslides that descended onto densely built neighborhoods located on hillsides. In the Parque Burnier district, at least 12 residential buildings disappeared under masses of earth. The Paraibuna River overflowed its banks, turning streets into raging torrents, cutting off some parts of cities from the outside world. Firefighters, supported by the military and tracking dogs, are working in extremely difficult conditions, searching through the rubble. The situation is worsened by the fact that the soil is completely saturated with water, creating a risk of further landslides, even with lighter rainfall forecast until the end of the week. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assured the full mobilization of the federal government to deliver humanitarian aid and rebuild damaged infrastructure. Meteorological services emphasize that February 2026 has been recorded as the rainiest month in the region's measurement history. Experts point out that the frequency and intensity of such phenomena in Brazil are amplified by progressive climate change, which destabilizes weather cycles in South America. Southeastern Brazil, due to its mountainous topography and dense construction of favelas on slopes, regularly struggles with the tragic consequences of the rainy season. The deadliest flood in the region's history in 2011 in the state of Rio de Janeiro claimed over 900 lives.

Mentioned People

  • Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — President of Brazil, who announced the government's readiness to provide support to the affected regions.
  • Margarida Salomão — Mayor of Juiz de Fora, who declared a state of natural disaster in the city.