Latest news Tornado hits southern Brazil: town almost completely destroyed
A tornado has caused severe devastation in southern Brazil and claimed the lives of at least six people. Around 750 people were injured and more than 1,000 lost their homes, as the news portal "G1" reported, citing civil defense officials. "Our teams said they found a war-like scenario," the portal quoted the deputy fire chief of the state of Paraná, Jonas Emmanuel Benghi Pinto, as saying.
08.11.2025, 21:38
SDA
The hurricane hit the state on Friday (local time) with wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and caused severe damage, particularly in the small town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu. According to Governor Ratinho Júnior, around 90 percent of the buildings there were destroyed. A state of disaster was declared in the town of around 14,000 inhabitants. Tens of thousands of households in the state were temporarily without electricity.
"As if a nuclear bomb had been detonated"
Drone footage showed entire districts in ruins. "The tornado lasted 30, 40 seconds and destroyed everything. I have two cars, one of which was thrown ten meters away. It looked like a nuclear bomb had been detonated," said one resident, describing the scenes on TV Globo.
According to the civil defense, a field hospital was set up to care for the large number of injured. People are still believed to be trapped under the rubble. Helicopters and emergency services from other regions have also been sent to the disaster area, the fire department announced.
"I would like to express my deepest sympathy to all the families who have lost their loved ones," wrote President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Platform X and promised rapid assistance. The governor ordered a three-day mourning period.
Rare phenomenon in southern Brazil
Tornadoes of this strength are rare in Brazil, but occasionally occur in the south of the country. According to the national weather service Inmet, the collision of warm, humid air masses from the north with cold air from southern regions and strong high-altitude winds favor the formation of such tornadoes.
