At least 23 people have died and hundreds more have been displaced across southeastern Brazil following record rainfall and subsequent flooding, landslides, and building collapses, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The hardest-hit areas are the cities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá, both in the state of Minas Gerais. According to updated figures from the Corpo de Bombeiros Militar de Minas Gerais (CBMMG), 16 deaths have been recorded in Juiz de Fora and seven in Ubá. Authorities are continuing to search for missing persons as the scale of the devastation becomes clearer.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared a state of calamity in Juiz de Fora, a municipality of approximately 540,000 residents, following a request from Mayor Margarida Salomao. The declaration, made in the early hours of Tuesday, acknowledges the “gravíssima situação” (grave situation) facing the city. President Lula has also placed the national civil defense agency on “maximum alert” and dispatched reinforcements to the region to assist with rescue efforts, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Mayor Salomao stated that February has seen the highest rainfall totals in Juiz de Fora’s recorded history, with accumulated precipitation reaching 584 millimeters. The intense rainfall caused the Paraibuna River to overflow its banks, triggering widespread flooding and landslides. At least 20 landslides have been reported within the city limits, isolating several neighborhoods, Salomao said in a video message.
Reports indicate significant structural damage, including the collapse of buildings and homes. Images circulating on social media show homes submerged in water, vehicles overturned, and even coffins dislodged from a cemetery in Ubá by the force of the floodwaters.
The situation remains fluid, with authorities continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and the number of people affected. The CBMMG confirmed that both Juiz de Fora and Ubá are currently dealing with a large number of displaced persons and ongoing emergency calls related to collapses, mudslides, and flooding. Governor Romeu Zema of Minas Gerais has decreed three days of official mourning in the state.
Vice-Governor Mateus Simões is also traveling to the Zona da Mata region to oversee relief efforts, according to a statement from the state government. Governor Zema, currently in Unaí, stated he is closely monitoring the situation and intends to travel to the affected areas “as soon as possible.”