Heavy Rains in Northeast Brazil Kill at Least 6, Displace Thousands
Al Jazeera
At least six people have died and thousands have been displaced by heavy rains causing floods and landslides in the Brazilian states of Pernambuco and Paraíba. Authorities raised the alert level to maximum and warned residents to remain cautious even as rains eased Saturday. President Lula offered federal assistance as the region braced for further impacts.
At least six people have died in two days of relentless rain across northeastern Brazil, forcing thousands to evacuate, local authorities said Saturday.
In Pernambuco state, flooding and landslides struck the capital Recife, where at least two deaths were confirmed. Two others died in the neighboring city of Olinda. About 1,500 people in the state have been displaced.
In Paraíba state, the capital João Pessoa and the city of Campina Grande were the hardest hit. At least two people died there, and another 1,500 residents have been evacuated.
Brazil's National Center for Risk and Disaster Management said it had issued 22 emergency alerts during the storm. "Due to the impact in Pernambuco and Paraíba and the weather forecast for the region, the operational level has been raised to maximum alert," the agency said.
The Brazilian General Staff reported that the rain had eased by Saturday but urged the public to remain vigilant.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on social platform X that he had spoken with local authorities to offer federal support. "The government continues to monitor the situation to provide all necessary assistance," he added.
A study published last year by the Brazilian Ocean Culture Alliance found that rain-related disasters—including floods and landslides—have tripled in Brazil between 1991 and 2023.
In February this year, at least 64 people died in floods and landslides in Minas Gerais state. In 2024, at least 183 people were killed in flooding in Rio Grande do Sul. In 2022, 233 died in flooding in Petrópolis, southeastern Brazil. Three months later, at least 130 people died in heavy rains in Recife.
