2026 Zona da Mata floods
.jpg) Area affected by landslide in Juiz de Fora | |
| Date | February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Zona da Mata (mainly Juiz de Fora and Ubá), Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Deaths | 70[1] |
| Missing | 4[1] |
In February 2026, floods and landslides caused by extreme precipitation events occurred in the Zona da Mata region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, leaving at least 70 people dead and four more still missing.
The region had already experienced above-average rainfall in the preceding weeks, and further episodes of extreme precipitation followed in the days thereafter. February 2026 became the wettest month ever recorded in Juiz de Fora, with total rainfall crossing the monthly average four times, according to the Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET). The floods and landslides left entire neighbourhoods cut off, displaced more than 5,500 residents, and left hundreds homeless.
Description
[edit]
According to National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), the accumulated rainfall for February 2026 at the weather station in Juiz de Fora, up to the 28th, was 752.4 mm,[2] with the average for the entire month in the city being 170 mm.[3] Between 9 a.m. on 22 February and 9 a.m. on 23 February, 89 mm of rainfall was recorded. At the daily reading at 9 a.m. on 24 February, a further 138.6 mm was observed, totalling 227.6 mm in 48 hours in the municipality.[2] At noon on the 24th, Cemaden rain gauges measured accumulated rainfall of 221.72 mm in the Cidade Universitária neighbourhood, 216.19 mm in Nossa Senhora de Lourdes and 215.43 mm in the city centre over the previous 48 hours. However, most of this rainfall was concentrated in a six-hour period between the previous night and early morning.[4]
Consequences
[edit]
The municipalities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá were the most devastated,[5] with a death toll of 22 individuals, and 45 individuals confirmed missing as of noon on the 24th, after severe storms hit the region between late afternoon on the 23rd and early morning on 24 February.[6] However, the area had already recorded above-average rainfall in previous weeks.[7]
In Juiz de Fora, the Paraibuna River overflowed, as well as several other smaller water bodies.[4] In Ubá, floods hit the campus of the Minas Gerais State University (Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, UEMG), destroying books, furniture, and equipment from laboratories and the library.[8] Other municipalities affected were: Matias Barbosa, Senador Firmino,[9] Leopoldina,[10] and Cataguases, where the Pomba River rose from 4.89 meters to 6.05 meters.[11]
About 5,510 residents have been displaced: 3,500 in Juiz de Fora, 1,200 in Ubá, and 810 in Matias Barbosa, and a total of 253 people have been rendered homeless.[12] The death toll from the floods had risen to 70 by 28 February, with four more missing.[1] In addition to human losses, landslides and atypical flooding caused by the rain obstructed roads and left neighbourhoods isolated.[13]
Response
[edit].jpg)
The federal government announced financial aid for the affected population and municipalities, and the deployment of the National Force of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS) to the affected areas.[14] President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on his social media that security forces have been deployed on rescue missions and provided immediate assistance.[15]
Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema visited the region,[16] and declared three days of official mourning for the fatalities.[17] Classes were suspended in schools,[18] and public transport services had to be reduced due to blocked roads.[19] On 26 February, 15 schools were being used as shelters for the homeless and displaced in Juiz de Fora and donation collection points for those affected were provided.[20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Ferreira, Ana Carolina; Jardim, Paula (28 February 2026). "Chuvas na Zona da Mata deixam 70 mortos e 4 desaparecidos". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Tempo". INMET. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia - Normais Meterológicas". INMET. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ a b Nachtigall, Luiz F. (24 February 2026). "Chuva provoca tragédia em Minas Gerais; Juiz de Fora segue sob risco" [Rain causes tragedy in Minas Gerais; Juiz de Fora remains at risk]. MetSul Meteorologia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ Diniz, Iara; Buschschlüter, Vanessa (25 February 2026). "Brazil floods: 'I saw people trapped in their homes crying for help'". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Delgado, Carol (24 February 2026). "Chuva em Juiz de Fora e Ubá deixa mortos". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ Zanetti, Nayara (20 February 2026). "Chuva em Juiz de Fora supera média histórica de fevereiro; previsão aponta mais temporais no fim de semana". Tribuna de Minas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 20 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ Leal, Juliana (25 February 2026). "VÍDEO: Enchente devasta subsolo com laboratórios e biblioteca da UEMG em Ubá; prejuízo pode chegar a R$ 10 milhões". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Miranda, Desirée (26 February 2026). "Chuvas atingem Matias Barbosa e Senador Firmino; mais de 200 deixam suas casas". CBN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Chuvas provocam alagamentos e quedas de barreiras em Leopoldina na madrugada desta quinta-feira". o vigilante online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Nicholls, Rebeca (26 February 2026). "Rio Pomba transborda e inunda cidade de Cataguases, na Zona da Mata; veja vídeos". Rádio Itatiaia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Governo de MG atualiza para 59 o número de mortos em Juiz de Fora e Ubá após chuvas". Rádio Itatiaia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Bonets, Vitor; Lopes, Bruna (24 February 2026). "Chuva deixa rastro de destruição em Juiz de Fora (MG); veja imagens". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 24 February 2026.
- ^ Netto, Juliana (24 February 2026). "Ministros confirmam envio da Força Nacional do SUS e reconhecimento do decreto de calamidade em Juiz de Fora". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Rodrigues, Diarlei; Hughes, Eléonore (25 February 2026). "Floods ravage southeastern Brazil and kill 46 as rescuers race to find the missing". AP News. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ Gelani, Felipe (24 February 2026). "'Um momento muito triste': Zema chega à Juiz de Fora após tempestade que já deixou 30 mortos na cidade e em Ubá". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Zema decreta luto após tragédia em Juiz de Fora e Ubá; chuva deixa mais de 50 mortos e centenas de desabrigados". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 February 2026. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ de Castro, Gabriela (25 February 2026). "Aulas na escolas municipais e estaduais de Juiz de Fora seguem suspensas por conta das chuvas". Hoje em Dia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Transporte permanece em operação de segurança nesta quinta-feira, 26". PJF - Prefeitura de Juiz de Fora (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ^ "Saiba como fazer doações para Juiz de Fora e Ubá após chuva devastar cidades mineiras". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 February 2026. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.