Brazil Floods and Landslides Kill 30 After Record Rainfall, Dozens Missing
Firefighters in south-eastern Brazil are engaged in a desperate search for survivors after torrential rains triggered devastating floods and landslides, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and leaving 39 individuals unaccounted for. The catastrophe unfolded in the state of Minas Gerais, where a river burst its banks, transforming streets into violent currents of brown water following an overnight downpour.
Rescue Efforts Amidst the Rubble
State firefighters confirmed the deaths occurred in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá, with more than 200 people successfully rescued from the debris. Major Demetrius Goulart of the fire brigade described a "massive landslide" that swept away twelve houses in a hillside neighbourhood of Juiz de Fora, noting that many residents were inside their homes during the night-time deluge.
Rescue teams, including firefighters and search dogs, are working tirelessly to locate the missing amidst the wreckage. In a poignant moment, three firefighters recovered a man's body from the mud, highlighting the grim reality of the situation. Paulo Roberto Bermudes Rezende, a state civil defence coordinator, cautioned that "the longer it goes on, the slimmer the chances of finding survivors become," though earlier efforts saw a boy aged about ten pulled alive from the rubble after a two-hour operation.
Personal Tragedies and Community Response
The human toll is starkly evident in the stories of those affected. Wilton Aparecido de Souza wept as he spoke of his 20-year-old son trapped in the debris, expressing a desperate hope to at least recover his body for a proper burial. Cleiton Ronan, a 32-year-old warehouse worker, revealed that "almost everyone buried in this mud is family; there's my sister, my niece."
Volunteers have joined the rescue efforts, with Atila Mauro, a 33-year-old bricklayer, describing the heartbreak of uncovering children's belongings like balloons and teddy bears. "I'm a father too ... I'm trying to help however I can," he said, reflecting the community's solidarity in the face of disaster.
Official Declarations and Climate Context
Juiz de Fora's mayor, Margarida Salomão, has declared a state of emergency, noting that the municipality of over 500,000 people is experiencing its wettest February on record with 584mm of accumulated rainfall. She reported at least 20 landslides and isolated neighbourhoods, describing the situation as "extreme." An estimated 440 people have been displaced and are receiving support for temporary shelter, while state authorities have suspended classes in all municipal schools.
Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed his commitment on social media, stating, "Our focus is to guarantee humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, aid to displaced people, and support for reconstruction."
This tragedy is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events in Brazil, including unprecedented flooding in 2024 that killed over 200 people and a 2022 deluge in Petrópolis that left 241 dead. Experts consistently link these disasters to the effects of the climate crisis, underscoring the urgent need for global environmental action.
