Father, mother, and two children die buried after dam breach in MG
A family of four tragically lost their lives in Eugenópolis, Brazil, after heavy rains caused a dam breach leading to a landslide that buried their home.
In a heartbreaking incident in Eugenópolis, located in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, four family members—including a father, mother, and their two children—were killed when a landslide triggered by the rupture of a dam buried their house. The local fire department reported that the dam failure was caused by severe rainfall that affected the area, raising concerns over safety and infrastructure. Emergency services quickly located the bodies but awaited authorization from the Civil Police for removal, and as of now, the identities of the victims have not been disclosed.
This tragic event marks the second report of fatalities in the region within a span of 24 hours, underscoring the dangers posed by persistent heavy rainfall. Earlier on the same day, another victim—a male whose name has not been released—was discovered in Muriaé, about 25 kilometers from Eugenópolis, after being trapped under the debris of a collapsed house. The rescue operation for this individual reportedly took around two hours, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by local emergency responders in the wake of continued adverse weather conditions.
The meteorological situation in Minas Gerais has led to significant rain accumulation, with reports indicating 93 millimeters fell in under three hours on the night prior to the family's tragedy. This incident raises questions about disaster preparedness and the resilience of local infrastructure against natural disasters, especially considering the increasing frequency and severity of weather events attributed to climate change. Authorities will likely need to reassess existing flood management and emergency response protocols to mitigate further risks to the community in the future.