Torrential rains in southeastern Brazil have triggered a major humanitarian tragedy, with at least 46 people confirmed dead and 21 others still missing, according to local authorities. The disaster has been driven by severe flooding, collapsing buildings, landslides, and mudslides that have devastated several communities.
The worst-hit areas include cities such as Juiz de Fora and Ubá, where entire neighborhoods have been left buried under mud and debris. Rescue teams continue searching for survivors, but hopes of finding the missing are fading as time passes.
Residents described scenes of desperation and loss as families try to locate loved ones. Josiane Aparecida, a 43-year-old cook searching through the ruins in Juiz de Fora, said her family had been shattered by the disaster. She was looking for her cousin’s children, aged 6 and 9, and the woman’s partner, while confirming that her cousin initially survived before later dying in hospital. Her aunt was also found dead in the same area.
Emergency crews reported recovering the body of a man who managed to save his wife from the rubble but was unable to escape a landslide himself. In Ubá, the river that runs through the city overflowed, causing widespread chaos as streets filled with mud, debris, and floodwaters.
Authorities warn that the situation could worsen, as meteorologists are forecasting additional heavy rainfall through Friday, raising fears of further landslides and damage across the region.
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of many urban areas in Brazil to extreme weather events, where intense rainfall combined with unstable terrain and infrastructure challenges can quickly turn into deadly crises.
