Heavy rains and severe flooding in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais have killed at least 46 people, left around 21 missing, and forced thousands from their homes as emergency teams continue rescue operations, officials said.
The intense downpours, which began in late February and persisted through the weekend and into Monday, caused rivers to overflow and triggered multiple landslides in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá, approximately 310 kilometers (192 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro. According to the Minas Gerais fire department, more than 3,000 residents have been evacuated to shelters as streets were submerged and homes buried under mud and debris.
Among the victims was an 11-year-old boy who died after his home collapsed under the force of the rain, local officials said. At least 20 landslides have been reported since the torrential rain began, with saturated soil and overflowing rivers prompting authorities to warn residents to avoid high-risk areas.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva deployed security forces to assist with rescue and relief efforts, while local mayors declared states of emergency, suspended school classes, and converted community buildings into temporary shelters. Meteorological forecasts indicate that additional rain could hit parts of the region, prolonging the risk of further flooding and slope failures.
The extreme rainfall, which has already exceeded historical February averages in some areas, has exacerbated conditions in vulnerable hillside neighborhoods, where residents face ongoing threats from landslides and structural collapse.
