Comparative law notes
Brazilian law does not differentiate between weather conditions/natural disasters and events caused by human action. Under the Brazilian law, both "caso fortuito" and "força maior" refer to events whose effects could not be prevented or avoided (sec. 393, sole paragraph, of the Brazilian Civil Code). They encompass natural disasters (such as lightning, hurricanes and flooding) as well as human actions (such as strikes, civil unrest and war). "Act of God", in turn, refers exclusively to the forces of nature. In Brazilian contract language, the terms "caso fortuito" and "força maior" are often used together (FONSECA, LUCIANA CARVALHO: Inglês jurídico: tradução e terminologia, 2014).