need to know
-
On Tuesday, February 24, a funeral parlor in Basiluba was destroyed and dozens of coffins were swept away by floods.
-
Floods in southeastern Brazil have killed at least 54 people and at least 14 are missing
-
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the government had declared a “state of disaster” in Juiz de Fora
Brazil recently experienced flash floods, the death toll continued to rise, and dozens of coffins were washed away.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 24, when a funeral home in Uba was flooded due to “record” rainfall, the BBC reported.
A bystander filmed several coffins being swept along a street by fast-moving murky water, dodging telephone poles and traffic lights as the flooding continued. Someone behind the camera can be heard shouting “Oh my god!” according to news.com.au.
More videos circulating on social media showed vehicles and other debris being swept through the city by mud and water, with several buildings collapsing, the BBC reported.
A car gets stuck in a shop after heavy rains in southeastern Brazil on February 24, 2026
Photo credit: Jose Carlos/Photo Alliance via Getty
At least seven people were killed in the Uba region, where video of severe flooding was recorded, while at least 18 people were reportedly killed in the hillside community of Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais state, where a “massive landslide” occurred, the BBC reported.
According to Agence France-Presse, the death toll caused by floods in southeastern Brazil has so far reached 54. As of February 26, at least 14 people were still missing, the outlet reported.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), in addition to those who died or were missing, about 440 people were left homeless as a result of the disaster. The local government has provided temporary shelter to residents and is seeking donations of water, food, clothing and hygiene products.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims and those who lost their homes in a statement issued on X day.
He also said that the government had declared a “state of disaster” in Juiz de Fora and that the National Health System (SUS) and the National Civil Protection Service were on “high alert” to assist with rescue efforts.
“In the coming hours and days, we will remain on standby to act with the speed and force required now,” Lula da Silva said. “Our focus is on safeguarding humanitarian aid, restoring basic services, assisting displaced people and supporting reconstruction.”
Aerial view of streets in Uba business district, Brazil, February 25, 2026
Photo credit: Pablo PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to get the latest from PEOPLE, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Health Minister Adriano Masouda also confirmed in a statement on February 24 that specialized mobile care would be available for citizens, adding that it was “essential” during this time.
“The affected population in Juisdefola and other affected municipalities can rest assured that there will be no shortage of financial, material, professional and technical resources to support the recovery and reconstruction of damaged health areas,” he said in a translated statement.
The recent floods are the latest such tragedy to hit Brazil. In 2024, unprecedented flooding occurred in the southern region of the country, killing more than 200 people. Two years ago, flooding in the city of Petrópolis outside Rio de Janeiro killed 241 people.
Read the original article on People
