On October 13, 2024, heavy rainfall in Brazil resulted in at least eight fatalities and power outages affecting over 1.5 million households. The national meteorological institute reported that some regions in the central and southeastern parts of the country experienced up to 100 liters of rain per square meter in a single day.
In São Paulo, the most populous state, seven individuals lost their lives, primarily due to falling trees and collapsing walls, according to local civil protection authorities. Additionally, in the capital Brasília, a soldier was killed by a falling tree, with another soldier sustaining injuries from the incident.
During a parliamentary session in Brasília, lawmakers had to open umbrellas as water leaked through the ceiling, as depicted in various media and online posts. In São Paulo, at least 1.6 million households were left without electricity, as reported by the energy provider Enel, plunging much of the economic hub into darkness. Several kilometers of the power grid and other energy infrastructure, including transformers, require repairs.
This severe weather event follows one of the worst droughts Brazil has experienced since weather records began, which led to numerous wildfires. In Brasília, it had not rained for over 165 days before this rainfall.