A tornado, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, hit the southern Brazilian state of Parana, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, as confirmed by the state government on Saturday. The town most severely affected was Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, where over half of the urban area experienced roof collapses and various structural failures late Friday. The aftermath included blocked roads and damaged power lines. The state’s civil defence agency reported 437 individuals receiving treatment for injuries, while approximately 1,000 people were displaced. The nearby city of Guarapuava also felt the impact of the disaster.
The Parana Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring System recorded wind speeds of 180 km/h to 250 km/h during the tornado. Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann announced plans to visit the affected area on Saturday, accompanied by acting Health Minister Adriano Massuda and other federal officials, to provide support for relief operations and reconstruction efforts. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed condolences to the families of the victims via the social media platform X, pledging ongoing assistance to the people of Parana.
[Image: Aerial view of destroyed buildings after a tornado hit]
Another perspective of the damaged structures in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Brazil, in the aftermath of the tornado. (Parana State Government/Reuters)
Additionally, world leaders are convening in Brazil for COP30, the global climate summit, amidst concerns about climate change impacts, including Earth’s projected warming exceeding 1.5°C in the next decade, skepticism in the White House, and fears of declining global cooperation to address climate change.
