Two dozen people are reported missing after a landslide in the Parque Burnier area of Juiz de Fora, Brazil, following tremors felt by locals a day prior.
In Juiz de Fora, located in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, residents of the Parque Burnier neighborhood reported feeling the ground tremble on Sunday afternoon, just 24 hours before a devastating landslide occurred. The landslide resulted in 23 confirmed deaths, with 16 in Juiz de Fora and seven in Ubá, as well as leaving 47 people missing—43 of whom are from Juiz de Fora and four from Ubá. The situation is dire as rescuers continue their searches amid concerns for those trapped under the debris.
The landslide was particularly destructive in Parque Burnier, where a street collapsed and took down approximately 12 houses. Among the missing are various families, including a significant loss of five individuals from Mariana de Oliveira Silva's family, highlighting the tragedy faced by locals. It's noted that both a child and two teenagers are among those unaccounted for, raising the urgency of the rescue operations as residents grapple with the aftermath of the disaster.
According to reports, the landslide may have been triggered by heavy rainfall combined with rocks that slid and struck the homes, contributing to the disaster. Residents had been experiencing tremors and chaos leading up to the incident, indicating a possible prelude to the catastrophic event. The community is now in mourning and searching for answers, as emergency services continue to work under challenging conditions to locate the missing individuals in hopes of bringing them home safely.
