Belo Horizonte, Brazil— Severe flash flooding and mudslides left four dead and hundreds homeless in Minas Gerais on October 16, 2026, and rescue teams waded through waist-deep water to pull families from collapsing houses. The rain started overnight. It did not stop.
Civil Defense said more than 150 millimeters fell in six hours over the Zona da Mata and central regions. Rivers burst banks. Hillsides gave way. Four bodies were recovered, two in a buried home in Juiz de Fora and two dragged by a swollen stream in Caratinga. Dozens remain unaccounted for.
Firefighters deployed boats and helicopters. In one district, a mudslide buried three houses in seconds. Neighbors dug with shovels. "We heard a roar, then the hill came down. We ran," a survivor told O Globo, standing in mud up to his knees. He lost his home.
O Globo reported that over 600 people were displaced, sheltered in schools and churches. Power was cut in 12 municipalities. Roads were blocked by landslides, cutting off access to at least five towns. The BR-116 highway was closed at two points.
A Civil Defense coordinator said, "We have four confirmed deaths. We are still searching in three municipalities. The soil is saturated. More slides are possible." He said rainfall exceeded historical averages for this period and that alerts had been issued but not heeded by all.
Governor's office declared a state of emergency in 18 municipalities and requested federal aid. The National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters had issued orange alerts for Minas Gerais two days earlier. Evacuation orders were only partial.
Hospitals reported injuries from debris and contaminated water. The health secretariat warned of leptospirosis risk. Shelters lack blankets. Volunteers are collecting food.
By evening, rain eased but rivers continued rising. The death toll may climb. Crews are still digging in Juiz de Fora with excavators. The hills remain unstable.
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