Landslides Kill 10 in Brazil’s Minas Gerais Amid Torrential Rains

IPATINGA, Brazil — At least 10 people have died after landslides triggered by torrential rains swept through two cities in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, officials confirmed Sunday. The hardest-hit area was the Bethania neighborhood in Ipatinga, where 204 millimeters (8 inches) of rain fell in a single day, overwhelming the region.

Ipatinga Mayor Gustavo Nunes declared a state of emergency, citing the unprecedented intensity of the rainfall. “There was no time for people to prepare,” Nunes said. At least nine deaths were reported in Ipatinga, while another body was discovered in Santana do Paraíso, a nearby town.

Rescue teams worked tirelessly to recover victims and assist survivors. Firefighters retrieved the body of an 8-year-old boy from the rubble of a collapsed home. Local media reported that two youths narrowly escaped a house where five relatives perished under the mud.

The landslides also damaged Ipatinga’s health center, forcing the evacuation of patients. “At this time, the health center is in no state to attend to people,” said Walisson Medeiros, the city’s health minister. He expressed gratitude to neighboring cities for offering assistance.

Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema pledged to visit the affected areas Monday, expressing solidarity with the victims. The disaster highlights Brazil’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, which have intensified in recent years. In 2024, record-breaking floods in southern Brazil claimed over 180 lives, while a historic drought fueled devastating wildfires in the Amazon rainforest.

Landslides are a recurring threat during Brazil’s rainy season, particularly in neighborhoods built on steep hillsides. Authorities are now focused on providing aid to the 150 people left homeless in Ipatinga and preventing further casualties as rains continue.