Rescuers Search for Missing After Storm Deluge Kills 30 in Brazil

Brazil Experiences Severe Flooding and Landslides Amid Record Rainfall

A recent downpour in southeastern Brazil has resulted in significant flooding and landslides, claiming the lives of 30 people and leaving dozens more missing. The state of Minas Gerais was severely affected, with a river bursting its banks and streets becoming raging currents of brown water.

According to state firefighters, 30 fatalities have been reported in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, while over 200 people have been rescued. Firefighters and sniffer dogs are currently working to locate the 39 individuals still missing in the debris.

A “massive landslide” swept away 12 houses in a hillside neighborhood of Juiz de Fora, according to Major Demetrius Goulart of the fire brigade. The mayor of Juiz de Fora, Margarida Salomao, has declared a state of emergency and is focusing on providing humanitarian assistance, restoring basic services, and supporting reconstruction efforts.

The municipality has experienced its wettest February on record, with 584mm of accumulated rainfall. An estimated 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to the extreme weather conditions. State authorities have suspended classes in all municipal schools, citing the “extreme” situation.

Brazil has faced various natural disasters in recent years, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves. In 2024, over 200 people died and two million were affected by unprecedented flooding in southern Brazil. A deluge in Petropolis, outside Rio de Janeiro, left 241 people dead two years ago. Experts have linked these events to the effects of climate change.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with firefighters and sniffer dogs working to locate those still missing.

Source: Al Jazeera