A devastating landslide in the hillside community of Juiz de Fora, situated in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, has tragically claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals. This disaster unfolded on February 24, 2026, as record rainfall inundated the region, leading to a river overflowing its banks, which subsequently obliterated several homes and left around 440 people displaced.
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Official reports confirm that a significant number of fatalities were concentrated in Juiz de Fora, where at least 18 people were confirmed dead. An additional seven lives were lost in the nearby municipality of Ubá. Current estimates suggest that 39 individuals remain unaccounted for, as rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid the wreckage.
The scale of the disaster prompted Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to declare a “state of calamity.” He expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and those who have lost their homes through a post on the social platform X. President Lula stated that the federal government, alongside the National Health System (SUS) and the National Civil Defense, would be on high alert as they coordinate ongoing rescue efforts.
Firefighter Major Demetrius Goulart reported to the French news agency AFP that the catastrophic landslide had swept away twelve houses in Juiz de Fora. In light of the catastrophic events, local officials confirmed that approximately 200 individuals had already been rescued from the debris.
In response to the crisis, Mayor Margarida Salomão of Juiz de Fora declared that this incident signified the “saddest” moment of her five years in office. To honour the victims, she also instituted three days of official mourning. The local government has begun to provide emergency shelter for those affected while appealing for donations of basic necessities such as food, clothing, water, and hygiene products.
As families search for missing loved ones, emotions are running high. Valtencir Coutinho de Miranda appeared on local television channel TV Globo, desperately seeking his five-year-old daughter among the ruins. He remarked, “We are here to find her, with God giving us strength and comforting our hearts, so that we may find her alive.” Another individual, in the midst of searching for his nephew, spoke through tears about the urgency of assisting others in distress, saying, “In that moment, you don’t choose who you help, you just do your best to help.”
Brazil has experienced an alarming frequency of catastrophic weather events in recent years, a trend attributed to climate change. Just last year, more than 200 fatalities were reported due to significant flooding in southern Brazil. Two years prior, a catastrophic downpour in the city of Petrópolis, located near Rio de Janeiro, led to the deaths of 241 people.
As the community of Juiz de Fora grapples with the aftermath of this devastating landslide, it highlights the pressing need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and climate resilience efforts in Brazil. The local and national authorities, alongside community members, will need to work collaboratively to address the immediate humanitarian needs and lay the groundwork for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Rescue operations are still ongoing, as the focus remains on locating missing individuals and providing support for those impacted by this tragedy. The pain and loss felt in Juiz de Fora serve as a somber reminder of the challenges posed by extreme weather in a world increasingly affected by climate change.