Heavy Rains in Northeast Brazil Leave at Least Six Dead and Thousands Displaced

Heavy Rainfall Hits Northeastern Brazil, Causing Fatalities and Displacement

At least six people have died in heavy rainfall in northeastern Brazil, with thousands more displaced, according to authorities. The deaths occurred in the Pernambuco and Paraiba states on Saturday, following two days of rain.

Flooding and landslides were reported in Recife, the state capital of Pernambuco, resulting in at least two confirmed fatalities. Two others died in nearby Olinda. In total, about 1,500 people were displaced by the storms.

In Paraiba, Joao Pessoa and Campina Grande were among the hardest hit cities, with at least two confirmed fatalities and 1,500 displaced. The National Center for Risk and Disaster Management issued 22 emergency alerts during the rain.

The ministry reported that rain had eased on Saturday, but urged continued vigilance. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has spoken with local authorities to offer support, stating that the government will continue to monitor the situation and provide necessary assistance.

According to a study released last year by the Brazilian Alliance for Ocean Culture, rain disasters, including flooding and landslides, have increased in Brazil over the past three decades. The study found that such events tripled from 1991 to 2023. Similar incidents have occurred in other states, including Minas Gerais, where at least 64 people were killed in floods and landslides in February, and Rio Grande do Sul, where at least 183 people died in flooding in 2024.

Source: Al Jazeera