First came the heatwave, then the stormy weather. Heavy rains in southeastern Brazil have led to floods and landslides, resulting in at least 25 deaths. Rescue operations are still ongoing.

At least 25 people have died in severe storms in southeastern Brazil. Authorities in the state of Rio de Janeiro reported eight deaths on Saturday, while the local civil defense agency in the neighboring state of Espírito Santo announced 17 fatalities on Sunday.

Heavy rain from Friday night caused floods, flash floods, and landslides. According to a civil defense spokesperson, over 5,400 people were evacuated to safety in Espírito Santo, as reported by Brazilian media. More than 250 people have lost their homes.

Some municipalities in the state were cut off from the outside world. Emergency responders are making urgent efforts to rescue people by boat or from the air.

President Lula Attributes Climate Change as Cause

In Petrópolis, located approximately 70 kilometers north of the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro at an altitude of over 800 meters, authorities reported that more than 300 liters of rain per square meter fell in 24 hours. The storm followed a heatwave in the region. A week earlier, Rio de Janeiro had recorded a “feels like” temperature of 62.3 degrees Celsius.

Brazil’s President Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences to the victims of the natural disaster. Thousands have been left homeless by the storm. His government is collaborating with state and municipal authorities “to protect and prevent or address damages from flooding,” Lula stated on the X online service. These are “tragedies exacerbated by climate change.”