Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Areas affected in Minas Gerais. February, 2026. Date of event 26-02-2026 What happened, where and when? In February 2026, the Zona da Mata region in Minas Gerais, Brazil, suffered one of the most severe socio-environmental disasters in its recent history due to extreme rainfall. In 12 hours, accumulated precipitation reached up to 220 milimetres, representing four times the expected monthly average for the region. This phenomenon triggered flash floods and massive landslides in densely populated urban areas, primarily affecting the municipalities of Juiz de Fora and Ubá. Although the rains were seasonal, this specific event generated an exceptionally high humanitarian impact concentrated in the aforementioned zones, affecting approximately 5, 510 individuals, all of whom were subsequently displaced from their homes. The disaster was officially classified as the fourth deadliest rainfall-related disaster in Brazil over the last decade, resulting in 74 confirmed deaths and leaving one person missing, whose body was ultimately recovered by 17 March. Geographically, the impact was concentrated within specific municipal boundaries. Juiz de Fora (population 540, 000) lies in the south-east of the state, near the border with Rio de Janeiro state, on the Paraibuna River, a tributary of the Paraíba do Sul. It is 272 kilometres from Belo Horizonte, the state capital. Ubá (population 103, 000), also in the Zona da Mata, is 290 kilometres from Belo Horizonte. Regarding the historical context of exposure, Minas Gerais had frequently faced recurrent flooding, though the prevalence of such events was historically higher in Juiz de Fora than in Ubá. Since the year 2000, the region had recorded at least 19 relevant hydrometeorological events evenly distributed over time, with a clear predominance of pluvial flooding. Within this vulnerable context, the recent disaster pushed population risks to critical levels; in Juiz de Fora alone, an estimated 129, 000 people were living in areas classified under high geological and hydrological risk. Consequently, survivors experienced severe psychosocial consequences, reporting acute anxiety, sleep disorders, and a complete loss of their sense of security after floodwaters reached heights of 1. 5 metres in urban centers. The damage inflicted upon infrastructure and public services networks was substantial, heavily compromising immediate local response capabilities. The damage to homes was the most severe and difficult to address. In Matias Barbosa, many families lost the temporary homes they were renting and cannot afford alternative housing due to high rental costs. Some remain in damaged properties as they have no other option. Although the return to their homes in Guaraní municipality was faster, damp and unsanitary conditions persist. In terms of the impact on health services, in Juiz de Fora, 11 Basic Health Units (UBS) were forced to close due to direct flooding of severe structural risks. The Emergency Hospital (Hospital de Pronto Socorro – HPS), the primary regional reference center, suffered severe flooding in its basement, which directly compromised critical care services. Other essential facilities, such as the Terezinha de Jesus Maternity Hospital and local oncology centers, also reported significant structural damage. Furthermore, the process of returning to homes that have not been properly sanitized posed health risks. Cleaning efforts relied heavily on community initiatives and limited support from local governments, and there was no evidence of any post-disaster epidemiological assessments having been carried out. As a consequence of total soil saturation and the partial collapse of sanitation infrastructure, severe epidemiological risks were identified for the subsequent recovery phase. Public health assessments indicated an elevated risk of waterborne disease outbreaks, particularly leptospirosis, hepatitis A, and acute diarrhoeal diseases. Stagnant waters left by the receding floods created ideal conditions for the proliferation of disease-carrying mosquito vectors, compounding risks in a broader national context where chikungunya outbreaks were already active in several Brazilian states. This situation was further aggravated by the fact that Juiz de Fora served as the regional healthcare hub for the entire southeastern zone of Minas Gerais, meaning the impairment of its health network caused a severe patient overflow into the hospitals of neighboring cities. Although it has received limited institutional attention, the emotional impact has been significant. Communities reported trauma, a recurring fear of further flooding, the loss of belongings and ongoing psychological effects, yet there were no specific psychosocial programmes in place. In terms of the impact on educational services, these were completely suspended across the area, and at least 15 schools were repurposed to serve as temporary shelters for displaced families who had lost their homes. Regarding the impact on the mobility system, transport networks collapsed as widespread road blockages and landslides isolated entire neighbourhoods, severely hindering the mobilization of emergency supplies and the critical transfer of patients toward high-complexity healthcare facilities. The destruction of access roads in rural areas prolonged the disruption to the education system. In terms of the impact on the livelihoods of the local population, the flood affected informal workers as well as businesses and formal sector employees, leading to loss of income, business closures, and unemployment. Juiz de Fora’s economic dependence amplified the impacts in Matias Barbosa municipality.
Brazil: Floods DREF Final Report (MDRBR012)
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