Authorities in southeastern Brazil have confirmed that the death toll from recent floods in Minas Gerais has risen to 46, with at least 21 people still missing as rescue operations continue.
According to the state fire department, 40 of the fatalities occurred in the town of Juiz de Fora, while six others were reported in nearby Ubá. Around 3,600 residents have been displaced after torrential rains triggered flooding and landslides, leaving homes and neighbourhoods buried in mud and debris.
Landslides devastate communities
Heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow and destabilised hillsides, leading to multiple landslides. Juiz de Fora’s Mayor Margarida Salomão reported at least 20 landslides since the rains began earlier this week.
Among the victims was 11-year-old Bernardo Lopes Dutra. His father described him as a child who “touched everyone around him”. Families of the missing continue to hold onto hope, even as firefighters warn that chances of survival are diminishing.
Residents have voiced concerns about inadequate infrastructure and lack of public support in vulnerable neighbourhoods, where improvised housing structures are especially exposed to extreme weather events.
Climate risks and ongoing alerts
Minas Gerais State Fire Department officials stated that search operations are ongoing. Brazilian meteorological authorities have warned that further rainfall is expected in the coming days, raising fears of additional landslides.
Brazil frequently faces deadly flooding during intense rainy seasons. Scientists have increasingly linked the growing severity of such events to climate change, which is believed to be intensifying extreme weather patterns across South America.
Authorities have urged residents in high-risk zones to relocate to safer areas as emergency teams continue relief and recovery efforts.