Catastrophic floods and landslides hit the Brazilian states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, killing at least 46 people. Rescue teams continue searching through the debris, and authorities fear the death toll will rise.

The city of Sao Sebastiao in Sao Paulo was hardest hit - the region received a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours. The mayor said: "Our rescue teams cannot reach certain locations - the situation is chaotic." The governor declared a state of emergency in six municipalities.

Meanwhile, in the state of Minas Gerais, floods in the city of Juiz de Fora and the surrounding region claimed over 22 lives with approximately 45 missing persons. The mayor stated that "this is the wettest February since records began - rainfall doubled the monthly average."

Major highways connecting the affected region to the rest of the country are blocked by landslides. Thousands of tourists who had arrived for carnival celebrations were stranded, and authorities cancelled all carnival events to focus on crisis response.

Over 400 families were evacuated. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ordered the mobilization of federal emergency services and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.