Brazil's Minas Gerais state has been hit by heavy rains that have caused fatalities and destruction. According to the latest reports, 46 people have died and 21 remain missing due to the natural disaster. The city of Juiz de Fora suffered the most with 40 fatalities, while the neighboring municipality of Ubá reported six deaths. In Juiz de Fora, approximately 3,000 people were left homeless and another 400 were evacuated due to the risk of landslides and flooding. In Ubá, 26 people were displaced and 178 were evacuated preventively. The authorities of Juiz de Fora have declared a state of public calamity and suspended classes in all municipal schools. The neighboring municipality of Matias Barbosa has taken similar measures to facilitate access to federal resources and expedite emergency actions. The rains, which intensified since Monday, have caused floods, landslides, and building collapses in various neighborhoods of Juiz de Fora, an area with rugged terrain featuring many hills and slopes. According to the city hall, February has already become the rainiest month in the municipality's history, with double the expected rainfall for the period. The Paraibuna River and other streams have also overflowed, forcing the closure of bridges and an underpass connecting neighborhoods to the city center, in addition to causing trees to fall and block roads. In turn, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his solidarity with the victims and the authorities involved in rescue operations, while the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, declared an official three-day mourning period in the state.
