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Prolonged Storms Hit Brazil’s Southeast and South, Causing Deaths, Displacement and a Building Collapse

Intense, multi-day rainfall has left communities flooded and soils saturated while authorities continue search, shelter and criminal investigations and warn risks will persist even as conditions slowly ease.

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Overview

  • A series of frontal systems and a low-pressure area produced heavy rains that intensified over the weekend, and a 12-floor building under construction in Penha collapsed on Saturday, causing multiple deaths and prompting a police probe and at least one arrest.
  • The Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia issued orange and yellow alerts covering large parts of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, warning of very intense rain rates, strong winds and possible hail.
  • Authorities report at least eight dead and multiple missing in the Greater São Paulo region, thousands displaced across southern states, and dozens of municipalities in Santa Catarina and Paraná declaring emergencies or opening shelters.
  • Meteorological services and Defesa Civil say saturated soils and high river levels keep the risk of landslides, flash floods and new overflows elevated even as forecasts show a gradual weakening of the worst conditions from midweek.
  • Residents are urged to avoid flood-prone and slope areas, register for SMS alerts (send CEP to 40199) and use emergency lines 199 for Defesa Civil or 193 for Corpo de Bombeiros while officials inspect damaged infrastructure and investigate irregular construction.