Record-breaking torrential rains in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais have caused devastating landslides and flooding, leaving at least 30 people dead and 39 missing. In the city of Juiz de Fora, a “massive landslide” swept away 12 houses overnight, leading Mayor Margarida Salomão to declare a state of emergency during the wettest February on record. Rescue teams and sniffer dogs search the debris for survivors, while President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has stated on X that the priority is humanitarian aid and reconstruction. Approximately 3,000 residents have been displaced as several neighborhoods remain isolated by at least 20 different landslide events. Experts highlight that these increasingly frequent extreme weather tragedies in Brazil are linked to climate crisis.
Date: February 25, 2026. Source: lemonde.fr