Brazil is reeling from catastrophic flooding and landslides in Minas Gerais, where the death count has surged to 68. Juiz de Fora, a key city in the southeast, accounts for 62 of these losses, with Ubá adding six more grim statistics.
Ongoing searches in the debris are revealing additional casualties, while some injured victims succumbed during treatment. Five individuals are still unaccounted for—three in Juiz de Fora and two in Ubá. Rescue operations involve advanced equipment and canine units sifting through the wreckage of homes buried under mudslides.
Monday’s torrential rains led to raging rivers that wiped out infrastructure, including vital bridges and underpasses. Toppled trees snarled traffic, isolating communities. In a show of solidarity, President Lula da Silva offered sympathies and support to those affected and the frontline workers.
Governor Zema’s proclamation of three days of state mourning underscores the scale of the tragedy. Military units have been deployed swiftly, removing rubble, delivering essentials, erecting camps, and extending relief. This disaster highlights Brazil’s vulnerability to extreme weather, urging better preparedness.