A devastating sequence of floods and landslides has claimed 73 lives and displaced over 5,500 residents across the Zona da Mata region of Brazil's Minas Gerais state, after record rainfall turned rivers and hillside neighborhoods into cascades of mud and debris. The Brazil Minas Gerais Floods rank as the deadliest flood disaster in the country since the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul catastrophe.
Record Rainfall Overwhelms the Region
Heavy rains began on February 19, 2026, and intensified dramatically on February 23–24, when the storm system stalled over the Zona da Mata highlands. The cities of Juiz de Fora, Ubá, and Matias Barbosa bore the brunt of the disaster. February 2026 became the wettest month ever recorded in Juiz de Fora, with total rainfall exceeding the monthly average by four times according to Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology (INMET).
Landslides swept through densely populated hillside neighborhoods, burying homes and severing roads. Entire communities were cut off, forcing rescue teams to reach survivors by helicopter. At the peak of the crisis, 3,500 people were evacuated in Juiz de Fora alone, with 1,200 more displaced in Ubá and 810 in Matias Barbosa.
Government Response and Recovery
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared a federal state of emergency and deployed security forces alongside the National Health System (SUS) rapid-response unit to the affected areas. Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema declared three days of official mourning and personally visited the hardest-hit communities. The federal government authorized approximately 3.4 million reais ($660,000 USD) for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
By March 17, when the last missing person's body was recovered, the official death toll stood at 73 — confirming the disaster's tragic scale.
Humanitarian Organizations on the Ground
World Central Kitchen deployed teams to Matias Barbosa and Juiz de Fora within days of the disaster, partnering with local restaurants to cook hot, traditional meals — rice, beans, pasta, and minced beef — for displaced families and exhausted first responders. WCK has been a consistent presence in Brazil during flood emergencies, and their rapid deployment helped stabilize food access for hundreds of families in the critical first days. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided shelter, clean water, and hygiene supplies to thousands of displaced residents across all three affected cities.
How You Can Help
Recovery in the Zona da Mata region will take months, as hundreds of families remain homeless and extensive infrastructure — roads, bridges, drainage systems — requires rebuilding. To support ongoing relief and recovery efforts, visit the Brazil Minas Gerais Floods disaster page to donate to World Central Kitchen and other responding organizations. For a broader look at active humanitarian crises, browse our organization directory or explore the full Relief Directory.
