Brazil has been grappling with the aftermath of a severe drought that fueled record-breaking wildfires. Now, heavy rains are bringing a different kind of devastation, claiming at least eight lives.
The storms, which began on Friday, have brought strong winds reaching 62 miles per hour and up to four inches of daily rainfall, according to the National Institute of Meteorology. These powerful storms have caused widespread damage, particularly in central and southeastern Brazil.
Seven people died in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, due to falling trees and collapsing walls caused by the violent winds and rain. The state’s civil defense reported these fatalities. The storms also led to blackouts affecting large parts of Sao Paulo city, leaving around 1.6 million homes and businesses without electricity, according to energy firm Enel.
In Brasilia, the capital, one soldier was killed and another injured when a tree fell on them while they were removing a flag in front of the military police headquarters. News reports even described officials inside the Chamber of Deputies, Brazil’s lower house of Congress, using umbrellas indoors as rainwater leaked from the roof.
Despite the damage, many residents in Brasilia welcomed the downpours as a much-needed relief after a record 165 days without rain. The severe drought, linked to climate change by experts, has been a major concern across Brazil. It fueled wildfires that ravaged the Amazon rainforest, left jaguars with burn injuries in the Pantanal wetlands, and choked major cities with smoke.
While the rain brings much-needed relief, the devastation caused by the storms serves as a stark reminder of the impact of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change.
