Deadly Tornado Devastates Brazilian Town, Leaving Six Dead and Hundreds Injured

A powerful tornado with winds reaching 250km/hour has torn through southern Brazil, killing at least six people and injuring 750 others in the state of Parana.

Local authorities reported Saturday that the twister, which struck late Friday, lasted less than a minute but destroyed approximately 90% of Rio Bonito do Iguacu, a town of 14,000 residents.

Aerial photographs reveal extensive devastation, with scores of buildings stripped of their roofs and entire sections of the town flattened. The tornado’s precise path is visible in the landscape, where green farmland and trees outside its trajectory remain largely untouched.

War Zone Conditions

Fernando Schunig, head of Parana’s Civil Defence agency, described the scene as resembling a war zone in an interview with local news outlet G1. “When these events hit an urban area, the damage is major. It is very lethal,” he stated.

The disaster struck as Brazil prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 in Belem on Monday. Climate experts note that warmer temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture from climate change can contribute to more frequent and intense tornadoes by enhancing atmospheric instability.

Residents’ Harrowing Accounts

Gilberto Brecailo, whose mechanic shop was destroyed, expressed his devastation. “There’s not much we can do… All we have left are our clothes and our documents. My livelihood, my mechanic shop, is gone, and my son worked with me,” he said, standing amid rubble and support beams.

Marileia Chagas recounted being thrown against a structure by the high winds before finding shelter under a bench. “When I came out, everything was destroyed. My daughter and my wheelchair-bound mother were inside. In two minutes, everything was on the ground; some people lost family, but we must thank God everyone is alive.”

Ongoing Response and Recovery

Five victims were from Rio Bonito do Iguacu, with another from nearby Guarapuava. At least one person remains missing as search and rescue operations continue.

State governor Carlos Ratinho Jr has declared three days of mourning. Health authorities report that among the 750 injured, 10 have undergone surgery and nine remain in serious condition.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with victims on social media, while Cabinet members announced emergency assistance including food, hygiene products, tarps, and mattresses for those affected.

Nearby towns experienced winds, storms, and hail but escaped the catastrophic damage suffered by Rio Bonito do Iguacu.

Source: Al Jazeera via The Namibian