[REVISION HISTORY]
Severe storms and power outages in Minas Gerais
Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
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2026-10-26 04:31 UTC → 2026-10-26 20:55 UTC ·
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Belo Horizonte has experienced a period of intense weather fluctuations. Initially, local authorities issued health precautions due to extreme heat, warning of risks such as thermal exhaustion and heatstroke. Following the heatwave, the Belo Horizonte Civil Defense issued alerts for heavy rain, lightning, and hail. On October 25, severe storms with wind gusts reaching up to 150 km/h struck Minas Gerais, causing widespread damage. The Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (Cemig) reported that approximately 636,000 customers lost electricity, which represents roughly 6.6% of its total consumer base. In the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, 380,000 customers were affected, including 221,000 in the capital city. The storms were characterized by approximately 60,000 recorded lightning strikes. The storm caused significant infrastructure damage, including flooding, roof damage, and fallen trees. A critical impact included the shutdown of the Ouro Preto-Taquaril distribution line, affecting 89,000 units. The weather also impacted the presidential election runoff; Cemig reported that 349 polling stations across the state lost power, with 65 located in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan region. While the Tribunal Regional Eleitoral de Minas Gerais (TRE-MG) noted that electronic voting machines remained functional via battery power, officials warned that storms could delay the transport of ballot boxes. Cemig described the event as one of the most severe in its 74-year history and mobilized between 3,000 and 4,000 4,600 workers to restore service. By Monday afternoon, approximately 410,000 consumer units had had their power restored, leaving roughly 200,000 customers still without electricity.
Versions
- 2026-10-26 20:55 UTC Severe storms and power outages in Minas Gerais
- 2026-10-26 04:31 UTC Severe storms and power outages in Minas Gerais
- 2026-10-25 17:59 UTC Extreme weather in Belo Horizonte
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