Authorities in the town of Ipatinga, located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, have reported at least 11 fatalities. This brings the total number of deaths to 24 within a week due to heavy rains in the area.

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The deceased were buried in the Vale do Aço region over the weekend. The tragedy was caused by a storm that struck the area early Sunday morning. According to Ipatinga’s mayor, Gustavo Nunes, the rainfall reached 80 mm within just one hour, leaving one person injured and 150 others homeless.

Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema expressed his solidarity with the victims on social media and urged residents to seek safe places during the heavy rains. The storm hit a region with weak infrastructure, where homes are situated in risk-prone areas. State authorities did not respond promptly to the meteorological event, resulting in more than 10 deaths and significant material damage in the locality.

According to teleSUR correspondent in Brazil, Nacho Lemus, 56 municipalities in Minas Gerais are currently under a state of emergency, with nearly 1,500 people displaced. Additionally, over 270 affected individuals are without homes due to landslides caused by the intense rainfall.

Images and videos shared on social media show that since last Sunday, teams from various municipal departments—including Works, Health, Administration, Social Welfare, Civil Defense, and Firefighters—have been mobilized to ensure assistance and safety for the population.

As of Monday morning, Ipatinga remains under an alert for intense rainfall with forecasts predicting precipitation of up to 50 mm and strong winds reaching up to 60 km/h.

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