At Least 10 Dead in Brazil Landslides Following Torrential Rains

AFP/APP

Rio de Janeiro: Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in southeastern Brazil have claimed the lives of at least 10 people, according to rescue services in Minas Gerais state. On Saturday night, 80 millimeters (3.1 inches) of rain fell within an hour in the city of Ipatinga, leading to devastating landslides.

Nine fatalities were reported in Ipatinga, including an eight-year-old boy whose body was recovered from the rubble of a collapsed home.

Another landslide in the Bethania neighborhood, situated on a hill, destroyed several homes and left significant debris scattered across the area. AFP images from the scene showed collapsed houses partially buried in mud.

As of Sunday evening, one individual remained missing, though four members of their family were rescued. A body was also found in the nearby town of Santana do Paraiso. In response to the tragedy, Minas Gerais state Governor Romeu Zema expressed his “solidarity with the victims” through a statement on social media.

The devastating incident is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events that have plagued Brazil in recent months. Last year, the country faced massive floods due to record rainfall in the south, resulting in more than 180 deaths. Additionally, a severe drought, linked to climate change, sparked the worst wildfires in 17 years, which ravaged large portions of the Amazon rainforest.