The state fire department confirmed the deaths happened in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 110 km apart.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered his condolences in a post on X.

“Our focus is to ensure humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, support for displaced people, and aid for reconstruction,” he wrote.

About 440 people have been displaced in Juiz de Fora, the city hall said, as the rain triggered flooding and landslides and forced the suspension of classes in municipal schools.

Specialised teams have mobilised to respond to incidents and search for missing people, it added.

The state fire department said 134 officials were deployed to Juiz de Fora and Uba.

“It’s a precarious situation; many people are missing.

But by helping each other, we’ll eventually find everyone,“ Gabriel Vitor, a 24-year-old state firefighter deployed to Juiz de Fora, said.

Item 1 of 5 Rescue workers operate after Brazil’s government recognised a state of calamity due to heavy rains, which have killed residents and left people missing, in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, February 24, 2026.

Public calamity

Brazil’s government has recognised a state of calamity in Juiz de Fora, speeding up relief and humanitarian aid, it said in a statement.

Much of Brazil enters the peak of its rainy season during summer, from December to March, bringing frequent intense downpours, thunderstorms, flooding and mudslides.

“It was terrible; words can’t describe how sad it is. Just ask God to find those who survived and to perform a miracle,” said Jaqueline Teixeira, a 45-year-old Juiz de Fora resident.

The Juiz de Fora city hall said this has been the rainiest February in the city’s history, with rainfall already more than double the amount expected for the month.

Mayor Margarida Salomao said in a statement on social media that the situation was “critical.”

Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology on Tuesday issued heavy-rain alerts for parts of 14 states, including the entire area of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.