The municipality of Juiz of The record volume of precipitation resulted in a humanitarian tragedy in Zona of Mata of Minas Gerais, resulting in deaths and hundreds of residents forced to leave their homes due to the imminent risk of new landslides on unstable slopes.
Faced with the scenario of widespread destruction, the municipal administration formalized the public calamity decree to accelerate the mobilization of federal resources and emergency humanitarian aid. Local authorities confirmed that the accumulated rainfall exceeded the mark of 584 millimeters, which represents double the volume expected for the entire month, collapsing the drainage infrastructure and causing the overflow of the Rio Paraibuna and several streams that cross the city.
Intense searches for survivors in affected neighborhoods
Rescue operations are concentrated in critical areas where waterlogged soil has given way over homes and public roads. In the Parque Burnier neighborhood, teams from Corpo and Bombeiros are working tirelessly to locate 45 people on the missing list, including children who were in the affected properties at the time of the storm. The unstable terrain makes access for heavy machinery difficult, requiring manual effort from the military and the assistance of sniffer dogs to identify signs of life under the rubble.
In addition to searches, agents respond to dozens of calls related to building collapses and residents stranded in flooding areas. Nove people were rescued alive in the last few hours and taken to medical care. The Hospital of Pronto Socorro (HPS) acts as a referral unit to receive the injured, while social assistance teams triage families who have lost everything.
Damage extends to neighboring municipalities
The climate devastation was not just restricted to Juiz of Fora, seriously affecting other cities in the region of Zona of Mata. Em Ubá, the overflow of rivers transformed the Avenida Beira Rio into a violent watercourse, resulting in four deaths confirmed by Polícia Militar. The force of the water invaded businesses and homes, forcing the population to seek refuge in higher places.
In the municipality of The regional coordination of Defesa Civil monitors weather forecasts, which indicate the possibility of new storms, maintaining alert for geological risks throughout the mountainous region.
Mobilization to help the homeless
With classes suspended throughout the municipal network for security and logistical reasons, schools and gyms were hastily adapted to accommodate the 440 homeless people counted so far. Voluntários and public servants organize the distribution of mattresses, food, drinking water and personal hygiene items, while donation campaigns gain strength to meet the growing demand of the victims of this catastrophe.