Two women, a mother and her daughter, died on a Friday afternoon as floodwaters surged through the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The victims, aged 70 and 35, were in the city of Limeira when the currents overwhelmed them as they stepped from their vehicles to block the rushing water and prevent others from entering the floodplain, only to be swept away themselves. This account comes from civil defense officials quoted by Folha de Sao Paulo. The tragedies add to a grim tally from the region, underscoring the dangerous consequences of severe rainfall and rapidly rising water levels.
These two fatalities joined four other deaths reported in Sao Paulo state the previous week, while neighboring Rio de Janeiro state saw twelve additional fatalities due to heavy rains. The stretch of rainfall continues to stretch across southeastern Brazil, amplifying risk for residents and complicating relief efforts.
By midweek, the Rio de Janeiro Secretariat for Social Development and Human Rights stated that more than 9,000 people had to evacuate their homes and roughly 300 properties were left uninhabitable. In total, about 15,000 residents across the affected area were impacted by the deluge.
As the weekend approached, the city of Sao Paulo remained on high alert for flood activity as rain persisted for the third day in a row, with forecasts predicting more heavy precipitation over the coming days for both states. Officials warned that substantial rain volumes could accumulate, particularly on the weekend, raising the risk of landslides, further floods, power outages, and weather-related hazards such as strong winds. The advisory urged heightened vigilance in the most vulnerable urban locations and stressed the importance of prepared evacuations and securing property to mitigate damage.