At least 12 people have died due to a severe storm that hit southeastern Brazil, particularly the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, where authorities described the situation as "critical." The government of Rio state confirmed that four people were killed in the collapse of a house and a small building in Petrópolis, a tourist town located about 70 kilometers from the state capital. Petrópolis Governor Cláudio Castro warned on social media that the situation in the area is "critical" due to "heavy rainfall and flooding of the Quitandinha River."
Experts from the National Institute of Meteorology explained that the storm was caused by a cold front arriving mid-week in Rio Grande do Sul (south), which then affected São Paulo and Rio before reaching Espírito Santo. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated in a post on the platform X that environmental tragedies like these are "exacerbated by climate change," adding that thousands have been left homeless due to the storm. He expressed his sympathy for the victims and stated that his government is working with local authorities.
