A dam collapsed in northeastern Brazil following intense rainfall, forcing the evacuation of over 100 families, the government of Bahia confirmed on Friday.
According to Civil Defense, the Quati Dam, located in the municipality of Pedro Alexandre, around 435 kilometers from the state capital, had already shown signs of overflow and structural cracks due to water pressure the day before. An official inspection on Friday verified a full breach.
Rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday exceeded 100 millimeters, and the overflow entered the Rio do Peixe, causing flooding in the nearby towns of Pedro Alexandre and João Sá.
No injuries or missing persons have been reported so far. Authorities announced that further inspections will be conducted to assess the extent of the damage and review the condition of surrounding dams.
This incident has reignited public concern over dam safety in Brazil, a country still mourning the Brumadinho disaster in 2019, when a dam owned by mining giant Vale collapsed in Minas Gerais, killing 248 people and leaving 22 still missing.
