A UFJF (Federal University of Juiz de Fora) suspended classes after the city of Juiz de Fora, in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, have entered a state of public calamity after a sequence of intense rains this Tuesday (24).
According to the UFJF, In-person undergraduate and postgraduate classes are suspendedin addition to the activities of the João XXIII Application College. The suspension is valid until next Friday (27).
The university informed that academic and administrative units will also have their face-to-face activities suspended. Only essential services will be maintained.
According to the UFJF, adThe decision was based on warnings and forecasts of continued heavy rain released by Inmet (National Institute of Meteorology), which indicate the risk of significant accumulations and possible disruptions to urban mobility and the safety of the population.
The university management states that the measure seeks to preserve the security of the academic communitygiven the risks caused by climatic conditions and their impacts.
The UFJF also expressed its regret for the deaths following the rains and classified what happened in the city as a “moment of pain”.
Rains and public calamity
The city declared a state of public calamity after a series of intense rains that caused landslides, floods and the overflow of the Paraibuna River. The decree, published in the early hours of this Tuesday (24), establishes the exceptional situation for a period of 180 days.
According to the city hall, the Accumulated volume of rain reached 584 millimeters by midnightmaking February 2026 the wettest month ever recorded in the city’s history, with a rate almost four times higher than the historical average for the period.
According to the spokesperson for the CBMMG (Minas Gerais Military Fire Department), Lieutenant Henrique Barcellos, the overflow of the Paraibuna River gthere were more than 40 emergency calls in a few hours, involving flooding, burials, road closures, isolated residents and structural risks on slopes and areas close to the riverbed.
More than 20 military personnel, in addition to specialized teams from the Environmental Emergencies and Disaster Response Battalion, were mobilized to reinforce operations, using rescue equipment and sniffer dogs.
Mayor Margarida Salomão (PT-MG) informed, on Juiz de Fora’s social networks, that there were at least 20 burials and 14 deaths.
See images of the tragedy
Images obtained by CNN Brazil show the situation on the streets the night before and this Tuesday morning.
The records reveal cars and pedestrians crossing roads taken by water, landslides and fallen trees in different parts of the city.
Credits: Reproduction/Juiz de Fora City Hall – CBMMG – Itatiaia
The mayor also stated that there are isolated neighborhoods and that the Paraibuna River left its channel, in an episode considered historic.
More than 400 homeless
The Civil Defense of the State of Minas Gerais reported that at least 440 people are homeless andin several neighborhoods of Juiz de Fora.
In a statement published on social media, the city hall stated that it continues to welcome residents who needed to leave their homes in temporary shelters. Only on Monday (23), 251 incidents involving homeless people were recorded.
The teams continue to support affected families and search for those missing as a result of the rains that caused flooding and floods throughout the city.
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Until now, three municipal schools serve as shelters for families: Paulo Rogério dos Santos Municipal School (Monte Castelo), Murilo Mendes Municipal School (Alto Grajaú) and Nilo Camilo Ayupe Municipal School (Paineiras).
Weather forecast in the city
The forecast indicates that the Instability is expected to continue in Juiz de Fora throughout the week.
After the municipality recorded the wettest February in its history and declared a public calamity this Tuesday (24), the National Institute of Meteorology maintains danger alerts for intense rain and strong winds in the region.
According to meteorological data, this Tuesday (24) should have many clouds, with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms between the afternoon and evening.
For Wednesday (25), the forecast indicates overcast skies, with drizzle and rain showers. On Thursday, many clouds are expected, while Friday (27) should mark the return of isolated storms, with temperatures between 18°C and 24°C.
Inmet’s alert remains valid until Friday (27), indicating the risk of interruptions in the electricity supply, falling branches, flooding and electrical discharges.
*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo
