The death toll from the storms that struck the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais reached 68 on Friday (27), according to an updated report from the Fire Department. Juiz de Fora accounts for 62 victims, while Ubá records six deaths. Both cities still report missing persons: three in Juiz de Fora and two in Ubá.
According to the corporation, teams remain mobilized on three search fronts in an attempt to locate the people still missing.
Juiz de Fora was the municipality hardest hit by the intense rains between Monday (23) and Tuesday (24). On Wednesday night (25), new storms worsened the already critical situation. The Hospital de Pronto Socorro, one of the city’s main health units, had its basement flooded. In addition, new landslides and flooding blocked important roads, disrupting essential services.
The Paraibuna River reached a height of four meters, prompting city hall to warn residents to avoid areas nearby. Among the most serious incidents were the collapse of a building in the Vila Ideal neighborhood and a landslide in the Três Moinhos neighborhood.
On Thursday night (26), at the recommendation of Civil Defense, the municipal administration closed a section of Avenida Presidente Itamar Franco, the access road to the Dom Bosco neighborhood, another area affected by landslides. The closure was implemented as a preventive measure due to the risk of further collapses.
According to Juiz de Fora city hall, more than 4,200 people are homeless or displaced. The municipality declared a state of public calamity on Tuesday due to the severity of the damage caused by the rains.
Residents reported receiving Civil Defense alerts shortly before the storms but stated they had not received training on how to respond in emergencies. Juiz de Fora is the fourth Brazilian city with the most Civil Defense alerts this year, totaling 35 incidents, and it leads the national ranking for population living in risk areas, with 128,000 people residing in locations vulnerable to natural disasters.
Fonte: brasil247.com