Brazilian authorities have reported at least 25 fatalities and 43 missing persons following devastating floods in southeastern Brazil. One of the hardest-hit areas is the city of Juiz de Fora, where images depict significant landslides and streets inundated with water. In the neighborhood of Parque Burnier, 12 homes have been either buried or swept away by a 'massive landslide,' according to Demetrius Goulart from the Brazilian Fire Department. Many residents were inside their homes during the nighttime rains, leading to tragic consequences.

Margarida Salomao, the mayor of Juiz de Fora, has declared a state of emergency, highlighting the historical rainfall that has struck the municipality, with a total of 584 millimeters recorded in February alone. The region has experienced at least 20 landslides, isolating some neighborhoods and complicating rescue and recovery efforts. Mayor Salomao described the situation as extreme, emphasizing the urgent needs of the affected population in a municipality that houses over half a million residents.

In Juiz de Fora, 18 deaths and 40 people are reported missing, while in the nearby city of Uba, fewer than 100 kilometers away, at least 7 have died and 3 remain unaccounted for according to official estimates. The catastrophic flooding and landslides underscore the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events, raising concerns about infrastructure and preparedness for future incidents as climate change continues to intensify weather patterns.