Dozens of Coffins Float Through Brazilian Streets in Devastating Flash Floods
In a chilling and surreal scene, dozens of coffins were seen floating down a flooded road in south-eastern Brazil this week, as extreme rainfall triggered catastrophic flash floods that have claimed at least 46 lives across the state of Minas Gerais. The coffins, which had drifted out of an inundated funeral parlour, bobbed along fast-moving waters, captured in images where a witness could be heard shouting 'my God' at the eerie sight.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Response
The severe weather has led to seven deaths in the municipality of Ub, where the funeral home was flooded, with heavy storms battering the region throughout the week. All fatalities have been reported from the city of Juiz de Fora, located north of Rio de Janeiro, where flash floods have destroyed homes and businesses, swept away cars, inundated medical centres, and left a trail of destruction. Authorities have declared a state of emergency, closing local schools and daycare centres, while more than 3,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, according to Minas Gerais's fire department.
Teams from the Fire Department, Municipal Guard, and Municipal Civil Defence Coordination have been working since the early hours to survey flooded locations, implement emergency solutions, and monitor affected areas. A spokesperson for Uba City Hall stated, 'Families have lost everything. Homes, stories, memories: lives were shaken in just a few hours. Now, more than ever, our city needs the strength of its people.' They added that efforts are underway to restore services as quickly as possible.
Personal Tragedies and Community Resilience
Among the victims was 11-year-old Bernardo Lopes Dutra, who was killed after rain caused his house to collapse. His father, Ricardo Dutra, described Bernardo as 'a boy with a big heart who, in his own way, touched everyone around him,' calling the event 'a tragedy that no one was expecting.' Dutra's wife and daughter remain hospitalised.
In response to the crisis, the Rev. Ananias Simões, pastor at the church regularly attended by the Dutra family in Juiz de Fora, has turned the building into a temporary shelter. 'We're doing what we can, collecting food, water. We're in a war situation,' Rev Simões said. Dário Tibério, a 41-year-old truck driver, sought refuge at the church with his family, fearing his home might collapse. 'There's a danger that the mud and earth can come and bury us along with the debris. We have this feeling of insecurity,' he explained, awaiting official clearance to return.
The flooding underscores the severe impact of extreme weather events in Brazil, with ongoing recovery efforts focused on supporting displaced families and rebuilding devastated communities.
