According to a study published on July 8, 2026, nine out of ten Brazilian cities have experienced climate-related disasters over the past three decades. The research, conducted by Brazilian scientists, analyzed approximately 60,000 disaster records from 1991 to 2024, revealing alarming trends in extreme weather events across the nation.
Extent of Climate-Related Disasters in Brazil
The findings indicate that 91.5% of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities reported at least one disaster linked to flooding, waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, storms, or drought during this period. Among these, 1,814 cities faced incidents caused by at least three of these factors, while 270 cities experienced all of them.
The Northeast region was the hardest hit, with 1,765 affected cities, followed by the Southeast with 1,405, the South with 1,152, the North with 433, and the Midwest with 342. The researchers mapped various impacts, including 4,774 deaths and economic losses exceeding USD 123.89 billion.
Types of Disasters and Their Impacts
Disasters in Brazil have included flooding, waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, storms, and droughts. Specifically, the Southeast recorded the highest number of flood-related deaths, while the South had the most storm-related fatalities, and the Northeast faced significant drought-related losses.
- Floods: Occur when rivers overflow their banks.
- Waterlogging: Happens when drainage systems cannot handle excessive water.
- Flash floods: Rapid flooding due to intense rainfall.
For example, in May 2024, storms devastated 2.3 million residents across 471 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, resulting in over 180 deaths. Similarly, São Sebastião faced catastrophic rainfall during Carnival 2023, leading to at least 60 fatalities and extensive infrastructure damage.
Human Factors Contributing to Disaster Severity
Elton Vicente Escobar Silva, a researcher from the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disaster (CEMADEN), emphasized that many disasters are exacerbated by human factors. He stated, "We decided to call them socio-natural or socio-environmental disasters because there's an anthropogenic aggravating factor—not only related to climate change but also to failures in public management."
Despite progress in developing disaster databases, challenges remain in data collection and monitoring. The study revealed that the analyzed disasters affected over 129.79 million people, with many incidents potentially underreported due to local management capabilities.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Phys.org. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
