Tornado kills six and injures over 430 in Southern Brazil

Sunday 09 November 2025 - 13:00

By: Sahili Aya

Tornado kills six and injures over 430 in Southern Brazil

A devastating tornado struck Rio Bonito do Iguaçu in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, leaving six people dead, 432 injured, and two missing, local authorities reported on Saturday. The small town of 14,000 residents suffered unprecedented destruction as the tornado, lasting only a few minutes, overturned cars and destroyed homes.

Residents described the event as a violent storm with strong winds and hail. One witness, Roselei Dalcandon, recounted how her shop was completely destroyed, but her son survived unharmed.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences on social media, offering support to all those affected. The Civil Defense reported that 90% of the town was impacted, with images on social media showing houses with roofs torn off or completely destroyed.

Authorities are conducting search-and-rescue operations, and a temporary shelter has been set up in a nearby city. Winds were recorded at 180–250 km/h, according to the Paraná Environmental Monitoring System, causing fallen trees and damage to solid buildings.

In response, cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo raised storm alerts, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. The Brazilian government is coordinating humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts, with the state governor mobilizing security forces to support affected areas.

Meteorologists warn that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe due to human-driven climate change, increasing the risks of deadly storms across the region.