Severe thunderstorms kill 10 in Minas Gerais, injure 2 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Severe thunderstorms struck parts of southeast Brazil on February 9 and 10, 2026, triggering landslides and flooding that left 10 people dead in Minas Gerais and injured two in Rio de Janeiro.
Landslide in Muriae, Zona da Mata region, Brazil on February 10, 2026. Credit: CBMMG
Severe thunderstorms struck parts of southeastern Brazil on February 9 and 10, producing short-duration, intense rainfall that triggered landslides and flooding across parts of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. As of February 12, authorities confirmed 10 deaths in Minas Gerais linked to the storm impacts.
In Eugenópolis, a landslide buried a residence, killing four members of the same family, while in Muriaé, approximately 92 mm (3.6 inches) of rain fell within about three hours, according to local civil defense reporting, causing structural collapse and at least one fatality.
Additional deaths were reported in municipalities in the Zona da Mata region following slope failures caused by heavy rainfall.
At least five people were injured in Minas Gerais in landslide-related incidents.
In Rio de Janeiro, the same weather system produced urban flooding, particularly in Copacabana. Two people sustained moderate injuries after suffering electric shock during inundation. Landslides blocked Avenida Niemeyer, a coastal roadway connecting neighborhoods in the city’s southern zone.
The Municipal Civil Defense of Rio de Janeiro activated a Stage 3 alert during the event. Authorities reported that 15 warning sirens were triggered in hillside communities considered vulnerable to landslides.
Rainfall intensity is forecast to decrease over the 48 hours following February 12, although warnings for landslide risk remain in effect due to prior rainfall.
February is climatologically within the peak of the rainy season in southeastern Brazil.
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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