According to local officials, landslides brought on by heavy rains have destroyed two cities in the state of Minas Gerais in southeast Brazil, killing at least ten people.
The most severely affected area was the Bethania neighborhood in Ipatinga, where mudslides destroyed houses and forced at least 150 inhabitants to relocate.
Many inhabitants were caught off guard by the 204mm (8 inches) of rain that poured in Ipatinga on Sunday morning, according to the mayor’s office.
The abrupt intensity of the rains created a lack of preparation, which Ipatinga Mayor Gustavo Nunes acknowledged by declaring a state of emergency.
According to Nunes, “people had no time to get ready.”
Five members of a single family whose home was buried by mud were among the nine fatalities reported in Ipatinga. Two young relatives escaped, according to local media.
Another confirmed death occurred at Santana do ParaÃso, which is 30 minutes north of Ipatinga.
Precariously constructed homes on precipitous hillsides were washed away, a frequent occurrence in Brazil during the rainy season. Whole neighborhoods are covered in red muck in aerial photos.
Additionally, the city’s health center was damaged to the point of being inoperable. Walisson Medeiros, the minister of health, stated that patients who were waiting to be transferred had been moved to nearby hospitals that could help.
“The health center is not in a condition to treat patients at this time,” Medeiros stated.
Romeu Zema, the governor of Minas Gerais, declared plans to travel to the impacted districts later on Monday in order to evaluate the damage and organize relief activities.
Tragedies are frequently caused by landslides during Brazil’s rainy season, especially in neighborhoods constructed on unstable ground. Local authorities and residents in impacted areas are still battling the persistent threats posed by harsh weather.
While displaced families are given temporary accommodation, emergency personnel are searching for survivors and clearing rubble.
Rainfall is expected to persist in the area, so the government has asked people living in high-risk locations to exercise caution.