Brazil floods: 'I saw people trapped in their
homes crying for help'
Heavy rains in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais have caused severe flooding and landslides, leaving at least 32 people dead. The cities most affected are Juiz de Fora and Ubá.
In Juiz de Fora, twelve homes were swept away by a mudslide. In Ubá, a river burst its banks and flooded several streets. Rescue teams have been searching for at least 38 people who remain missing, while shelters have been set up for thousands of residents who were left homeless.
Meteorologists reported that the amount of rain that fell in the region during the month was already double the average normally expected for February, and additional rainfall was forecast for the following days.
A resident of Ubá, Lucas Gandra, told BBC Brasil that he received the first flood warning early on Tuesday, when a friend called to inform him that the local river was about to overflow. According to him, the situation worsened very quickly.
“At 00:07 the water was overflowing and by 00:20 it was already causing enormous damage. The water rose very quickly, ” he said.
The city, located about 300 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro, had previously experienced flooding in 2019 and 2020, but residents reported that the current disaster was far more destructive.
Lucas Gandra also described dramatic scenes during the flooding, recalling that many residents were trapped in their homes and calling for help.
More than 200 people were rescued by emergency teams, although some of those who died had reportedly attempted to help others during the disaster. Another resident of Ubá, Carolina Magalhães, described the situation as “horrific.” She reported seeing floodwaters carrying debris through the streets, including household items, motorcycles, and gas cylinders.
DINIZ, Iara; BUSCHSCHLÜTER, Vanessa. Brazil floods: “I saw people trapped in their homes crying for help”. BBC News,25 Feb.2026. Available at: BBC News article (adapted) Accessed on: 1 Mar.2026.
In the sentence “a friend called to inform him that the local river was about to overflow, ” the expression ‘was about to’ indicates that the river:
