Minas Gerais faces severe weather forecasts with expectations of heavy rainfall and risks of flooding, particularly after recent storms resulted in 22 fatalities.
After recent intense rainfall that caused at least 22 deaths in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, meteorologists are predicting further severe storms in the days to come. The weather alert from the National Institute of Meteorology indicates that high rainfall accumulations are expected, categorizing the situation as 'great danger', set to last until the end of the week. Areas such as Zona da Mata, Vale do Rio Doce, and southern regions of Minas Gerais are forecast to receive over 100 millimeters of rain daily, heightening concerns about flooding and landslides.
As of now, the city of Juiz de Fora has been the hardest hit, reporting 16 fatalities and approximately 440 people left homeless due to the extreme weather conditions. In response, local authorities declared a state of public calamity on Tuesday, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The meteorological warnings extend beyond Minas Gerais to include the coastal regions of São Paulo, the entirety of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, as well as the extreme south of Bahia, indicating a wider potential threat of adverse weather.
This situation highlights not only the immediate dangers posed by the weather but also the long-term implications for disaster preparedness and response in the affected areas. With high volumes of rain predicted, the risk of overflow from rivers and mudslides poses a significant threat to communities, underlining the necessity for timely evacuations and support for those displaced by the flooding.
