At least 30 people have been killed and 39 others remain missing following heavy rains and devastating landslides in southeastern Brazil.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing The Guardian, that the disaster has primarily affected the state of Minas Gerais, where rivers have burst their banks, submerging entire streets. According to official reports, at least 12 houses were buried under mud following landslides, while emergency teams have successfully rescued approximately 200 people from the affected zones.
Local authorities stated that several villages have been completely isolated from the outside world due to the collapse of infrastructure and blocked roads. As a precautionary measure, schools in the region have suspended all classes, and emergency services continue to search for the missing under difficult weather conditions.
Minas Gerais is frequently prone to heavy seasonal rainfall, but the intensity of the current storms has exceeded historical averages, leading to rapid soil saturation and subsequent landslides. Brazil's civil defense agencies have issued high-alert warnings for neighboring regions, as the tropical climate often triggers such natural disasters during the summer months, requiring significant state resources for disaster relief and urban planning to mitigate future risks.
