Landslides in southern Brazil force preventive evacuations

Heavy rainfall has triggered landslide risks in several regions of southern Brazil, leading to preventive evacuations.

In Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, a landslide near the Pardinho River has placed families in the Navegantes neighborhood at risk. While the Municipal Civil Defense stated there is no immediate risk of houses collapsing, four families have been notified to leave their homes preventively to avoid potential flooding or further soil instability. Additionally, a landslide on Melvin Jones Avenue in the Jardim Europa neighborhood caused a tree to fall and blocked traffic; authorities have closed the road due to unstable slopes and the risk of further falling vegetation.

In Apiúna, Santa Catarina, geologists identified a risk of landslides in the Subida locality. As a result, 12 families were notified to evacuate their homes preventively. This area has a history of similar geological movements in 2019 and 2023. Local Civil Defense and Social Assistance teams are monitoring the situation to mitigate the impact of potential further soil movement.