The death toll from landslides and flooding in eastern Brazil has risen to 64, with authorities continuing search operations for survivors.

The update on Friday followed days of heavy rainfall in Minas Gerais state, where the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba were particularly affected.

The state fire department reported five people remain missing. Over 5,500 residents have been displaced from their homes.

Brazil's meteorology institute, Inmet, has issued warnings of "great danger" from further severe weather in parts of Minas Gerais and neighboring Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states along the Atlantic coast.

The institute highlighted additional risks of landslides, river overflows, and major flooding.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will visit Minas Gerais on Saturday to meet with local officials, according to a presidential palace statement.

Lula will conduct an aerial survey of affected areas and hold meetings with the mayors of Juiz de Fora, Uba, and Matias Barbosa.

The federal government has authorized approximately 3.4 million reais ($660,000) for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

The meetings will take place at Juiz de Fora city hall, where about 540,000 residents—a quarter of the population—live in areas identified as at risk for natural disasters related to land and water, per a 2023 report from government agency Cemaden.

Video footage from Thursday evening showed brown water flowing through the tourist destination of Paraty in southeastern Brazil. Authorities advised residents to avoid flooded zones, hillsides, and sheltering under trees due to lightning risks.

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency of extreme weather events to human-caused climate change.

On Friday, Greenpeace Brazil posted on Instagram calling for better urban preparedness against extreme weather impacts.

"Preventing tragedies like those currently happening in cities in Minas Gerais and other states must be a priority," the nonprofit stated. "Disasters are also the result of political choices."

The fatalities in Minas Gerais come nearly two years after flooding in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state devastated the region, killing at least 185 people.

Source: www.aljazeera.com