A cold front moving towards the Northeast of Brazil is bringing with it a warning of storms and intense rain for the region.
The meteorological phenomenon, which has already caused damage in other parts of the country, is now threatening several northeastern states, putting authorities and residents on high alert.
In Minas Gerais, the devastating effects of the rains have already been felt.
Landslides in the interior of the state, in the cities of Ipatinga and Santana do Paraíso, resulted in the tragic death of 11 people, with one still missing.
The storms that hit the region over the weekend left at least 150 people homeless.
Public calamity in Ipatinga
The situation in Ipatinga is particularly critical.
The city declared a state of public calamity for 180 days after recording around 200 millimeters of rain in the early hours of Sunday.
In just one hour, the volume reached an impressive 80 millimeters, causing streams to overflow and widespread flooding.
Governor Romeu Zema (Novo) is scheduled to visit the affected region this Monday.
The National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (CEMADEN) issued alerts for several areas, highlighting the risk of flooding and new landslides, especially in the Ipatinga region, where the ground is already extremely wet.
Alert extends to the Northeast
The cold front, now at the height of the Bahian region, is moving a corridor of humidity towards the Northeast region.
This significantly expands the area under warning for storms, including parts of the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Bahia and Sergipe.
In Sergipe, the situation is already worrying.
Two people died and one is missing after a section of highway gave way during a flood in the municipality of Capela.
Rescue teams resume searches today, after being interrupted on Sunday due to adverse weather conditions.
Forecasts indicate that until Thursday, at least, there is a risk of intense rain in Sergipe, with the possibility of up to 40 millimeters of precipitation in some areas, including the capital Aracaju.
Authorities recommend that people in risk areas pay attention to official warnings and follow safety guidelines.
The situation requires constant vigilance, especially in regions prone to flooding and landslides.
