Collapsing Cliff in Tourist Spot Leads to Tragedy, Killing at Least 10 People in Brazil

On Saturday, a tourist destination in southeastern Brazil was hit by disaster due to wet weather, killing at least ten people and injuring more than 30 others.

(Photo : Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)
Relatives of a victim wait outside the Legal Medicine Institute of Passos, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, on January 9, 2022, a day after a large rock fragment broke off a ravine and plunged onto several tourist boats leaving ten people dead at the nearby canyons of Furnas Lake. - Ten people died when a cliff collapsed onto tourist boats on a lake in Brazil, officials said Sunday after the bodies of two missing people were found. (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP) (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP via Getty Images)

An Unfortunate Incident

A massive block of granite fell loose from the surrounding canyon and crashed into the lake below while dozens of boaters relaxed on Furnas Lake in the Capitólio district of the state of Minas Gerais.

According to the state governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, heavy rains were the source of the dislodged rock at Furnas Lake. According to state broadcaster Agencia Brasil, Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology issued red flag warnings across the state, indicating the possibility for more than 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rainfall per day for four days.

Immediate Action

According to Zema, officials are also making preparations in other areas of the state that may be vulnerable to harm.

Furnas Lake is a peaceful stream encircled by a rock canyon and a stunning waterfall.

What Lead to the Incident

According to videos, nearby sailors were seen trying to warn vessels closer to the cliff of the unstable rock moments before it crashed.

He has "never seen something like that happen in the region," according to Rovilson Teixeira, who has dealt with speedboat transportation for six years. Teixeira stated, "We're all astonished."

The Brazilian Navy arrived quickly to assist with rescue attempts.

Search and Rescue

As search and rescue activities resumed Sunday, the original death toll grew to ten. In the event, at least 32 persons were hurt, according to Pedro Aihara, of the Minas Gerais Fire Department. All of them were evacuated to surrounding hospitals. Since then, several have been released.

Zema expressed her sympathy to the families of the victims.

Zema remarked on Twitter, "I stand in sympathy with the families at this difficult moment." To give the required safety and assistance, "we will continue to act."

Flooding

Since late December, flooding has been a concern over most of Brazil. At least 20 people have died due to flooding in Brazil's northeastern region, forcing the government to deploy 200 million reais ($35.5 million) in disaster assistance funding to the area. According to Reuters, villages in Para in northern Brazil were also inundated, forcing inhabitants to go by boat.

Cliff Erosions

Bad weather can damage a cliff's foundations and lead it to fall. Rainfall changes the composition of the cliff, which is one of the most prevalent types of weathering.

Storms and other natural phenomena that induce erosion affect all near-water locations; the most devastating circumstances are created when intense weather is combined with additional effects from diverse environmental factors often associated with landfalling tropical storms. The problem's scope and severity are increasing, but it varies across the country, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer.