RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Heavy rainfall in the state of Minas Gerais has left more than 2,000 people homeless and a trail of destruction in recent days. So far, 6 deaths have been reported as a result of the storms.
The state Fire Department has been deployed mainly to northern Minas Gerais, where the most affected cities are.
Firemen and Civil Defense are working to rescue residents stranded by floods and overflowing caused by the rains. Several houses in the northern region of the state are at risk of collapsing.
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However, the situation could be aggravated with further rainfall. According to MetSul, the forecast is for the whole Southeast region to be affected by heavy rains in the coming days.
Minas Gerais is the state with the greatest risk of storms. Parts of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo may also experience excessive precipitation. The forecast is for the rains to disrupt New Year’s Eve celebrations.
These incidents are occurring concurrently with the heavy rains that hit Bahia in the last few weeks. The rainfall in the southern region of the state has so far left 21 dead, 358 injured, 67,000 homeless or displaced, and over 100 municipalities affected.