At least six people have died and thousands have been displaced across northeastern Brazil following two days of heavy rainfall, according to authorities. The storms have caused widespread flooding and landslides in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba.
In Pernambuco, the state capital of Recife and the neighboring city of Olinda reported at least two deaths each, Al Jazeera reported. Flooding and landslides hit the region, leaving approximately 1,500 people displaced, according to the same report.
The Recife fire department rescued 525 people who had become isolated by rising waters using 26 rescue boats, according to a report from La Tercera.
In Paraiba, the cities of João Pessoa, Campina Grande, and Condé were among the hardest hit. The Brazilian Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR) reported that two people died in the state and 1,800 people were forced to evacuate, according to La Tercera.
Emergency alerts and government response
The National Center for Risk and Disaster Management issued 22 emergency alerts during the period of intense rainfall. The MIDR stated that because of the impacts in Pernambuco and Paraiba and the current weather forecast, the operational level was raised to maximum alert.
While reports from Al Jazeera and La Tercera indicate that rainfall began to ease on Saturday, authorities have urged continued vigilance. The National Civil Defense reported on X that Pernambuco and Paraiba remain under a "level orange" alert, indicating a high risk of further flooding and landslides.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the disaster on X, stating that he had spoken with local authorities to offer support. “The government continues to monitoring the situation to provide all necessary assistance,” the President said, according to Al Jazeera.
Additionally, the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family, and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, announced that the federal government is helping affected municipalities declare a state of emergency to accelerate the release of federal funds, according to La Tercera.
Pattern of extreme weather
Local authorities have issued 45 active alerts and are working in the field to guide emergency responses. The National Civil Defense has instructed the population to avoid flooded areas and follow official instructions.
This recent disaster follows a pattern of increasing extreme weather events in Brazil. A study released last year by the Brazilian Alliance for Ocean Culture found that rain-related disasters, including flooding and landslides, tripled in the country between 1991 and 2023, according to Al Jazeera.
Recent history shows a high frequency of such events in different regions. In February, at least 64 people died in floods and landslides in Minas Gerais state. In 2024, flooding in Rio Grande do Sul killed at least 183 people, Al Jazeera reported.
Earlier, in 2022, the city of Petropolis in southeastern Brazil saw at least 233 deaths due to flooding. Three months later, at least 130 people died in heavy rains in Recife, according to the same report.
