On Tuesday, October 24, the Brazilian federal government formally recognized a state of public calamity in the city of Juiz de Fora, located in the state of Minas Gerais. This declaration comes as a response to severe flooding caused by heavy rains that began affecting the area on the evening of October 23. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development, which highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting the loss of life and the extensive damage caused by the floods.

As part of the emergency response, the National Civil Defense has deployed eight disaster response specialists to Juiz de Fora to aid in humanitarian assistance efforts, restore essential services, and support reconstruction in the affected areas. National Civil Defense Secretary Wolnei Wolff is also traveling to Minas Gerais to oversee the situation. According to government communications, the priority is to provide immediate relief to affected populations and guide the federal recognition and response stages for the disaster in other impacted municipalities in the state.

The declaration of calamity will also be published in the Official Gazette of the Union, a procedural requirement that allows for the acceleration of federal assistance and mobilization of resources to mitigate the disaster's effects. The situation underscores the vulnerability of many regions in Brazil to extreme weather events, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness in the face of climate change.