A severe weather disaster struck Minas Gerais, Brazil, with Juiz de Fora and Ubá hit by heavy rains that triggered deadly floods and multiple landslides.

February rainfall was the wettest on record, delivering more than twice the usual amount for the month.

President Lula pledged humanitarian aid, restoration of essential services, support for displaced people, and reconstruction efforts via X (formerly Twitter).

About 440 residents evacuated their homes and schools were closed as a precaution and response measure.

Rescue operations remained active as dozens of people were still missing after homes and buildings collapsed overnight.

More than 400 residents in Juiz de Fora were displaced, and authorities declared a three-day period of mourning.

Authorities reported dozens of missing in Juiz de Fora and Ubá, with ongoing search and rescue updates.

Juiz de Fora declared a disaster and shut down municipal schools while searching for missing people.

Local residents described the disaster as heartbreaking, with communities rallying to support rescue efforts.

Rescuers saved several people amid mud and debris, even as family members pleaded for loved ones on local media.

Relief efforts included 136 fire department personnel (108 in Juiz de Fora and 28 in Ubá) and specialized teams focused on missing persons.

Communication outages were reported in parts of Juiz de Fora due to the disaster.