At least 30 people have died after record rains caused a river to burst its banks and trigger a massive landslide in Minas Gerais, Brazil, devastating the hillside neighborhood of Juiz de Fora. Authorities report about 200 people rescued, roughly 440 displaced and 39 still missing. President Lula declared a state of calamity and mobilized federal agencies, while local officials set up temporary shelters and appealed for donations. Rescue operations and searches for missing relatives continue as communities begin short-term recovery efforts.
At Least 30 Dead After Massive Landslide Devastates Juiz de Fora Hillside; 39 Still Missing
This aerial view shows rescue teams searching for victims amid the debris after a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Barrio Parque Jardim Burnier neighbourhood in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, on February 24, 2026.Credit: Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty
At least 30 people have died after a massive landslide struck the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, authorities say. Record-breaking rains caused a river to overflow and sweep through the hillside neighborhood of Juiz de Fora and affected nearby towns, destroying homes and leaving many residents displaced.
What Happened
Local and international reports indicate the majority of fatalities occurred in Juiz de Fora, where officials say 18 people were killed. Another seven deaths were reported in the nearby city of Ubá, bringing the confirmed toll to at least 30. The Guardian reports that 39 people remain missing after the disaster, which unfolded when a river burst its banks on Tuesday, Feb. 24, following unusually intense rainfall.
Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, BrazilCredit: Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty
Rescue teams have recovered roughly 200 people so far, while approximately 440 residents are estimated to be homeless. Firefighter Maj. Demetrius Goulart told AFP, as cited by The Guardian, that about a dozen houses in Juiz de Fora were swept away by the landslide.
Government Response and Humanitarian Efforts
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered his condolences and announced that the government declared a state of calamity in Juiz de Fora. He said federal agencies — including the National Health System (SUS) and the National Civil Defense — are on high alert to support rescue operations and provide humanitarian aid.
Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, on February 24, 2026Credit: Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty
"In the coming hours and days, we will remain on standby to act with the speed and force that the moment demands. Our focus is to guarantee humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, aid to displaced people, and support for reconstruction," the president wrote on X.
The municipal government has opened temporary shelters and called for donations of water, food, clothing and hygiene supplies to help those displaced. Mayor Margarida Salomão described the event as the saddest moment of her five-year administration and declared three days of official mourning in Juiz de Fora.
Community Impact
Television coverage showed frantic searches through the rubble as relatives looked for missing loved ones. Valtencir Coutinho de Miranda told TV Globo he was searching for his five-year-old daughter amid the debris, while other family members and neighbors joined rescue efforts amid heartbreak and uncertainty.
Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, on February 24, 2026Credit: Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP via Getty
People magazine reported it had sought comment from SUS, the National Civil Defense and local fire services but had not received immediate responses.
Context
Brazil has faced several extreme-weather disasters in recent years that experts and media outlets have linked to climate change. In 2024, unprecedented flooding in southern Brazil killed more than 200 people, and a devastating deluge in Petrópolis outside Rio de Janeiro in 2022 left 241 people dead.
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing as authorities work to account for the missing, provide shelter and basic services to displaced families, and begin assessing the damage.
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