In São João de Meriti, Brazil, an 85-year-old woman tragically drowned during a severe downpour on Monday, October 23. Witnesses reported that the elderly woman, who had mobility difficulties, became trapped in her home and was unable to escape the rapidly rising waters. This devastating incident highlights the severe impact of the flooding on vulnerable individuals in the community.

The torrential rains resulted in approximately 600 people being displaced from their homes, according to local authorities. Images from the scene depicted submerged vehicles, fallen trees, and muddy streets, illustrating the extent of the flooding. The local government issued a maximum alert as the situation escalated, leading to the activation of sirens in at least three areas. Notably, the major expressway linking Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo was closed for nearly two hours due to severe flooding before being reopened the following morning.

In response to the environmental crisis, the local government declared a state of emergency for the affected areas. In addition, the nearby municipality of Duque de Caxias remains under flood watch as the Environmental State Institute continues to monitor conditions in the region. This situation underscores the growing vulnerabilities faced by urban areas in Brazil during extreme weather events, necessitating improved disaster response protocols and infrastructure solutions to protect residents from future occurrences.