Brazil: Powerful Tornado Devastates Paraná, Leaving Six Dead
A violent tornado of exceptional strength tore through the southern Brazilian state of Paraná on Friday night, killing six people and injuring more than 400, according to local authorities. The storm caused widespread destruction and left entire neighborhoods without electricity.
Severe Damage Across Cities
The city of Bela Vista do Iguaçu suffered the heaviest damage, with more than half of its urban area affected by collapsed roofs and major structural losses. Roads were cut off, power lines torn down, and nearly a thousand residents were displaced, according to the state civil protection agency. The nearby city of Guarapuava was also hit by the strong winds.
Tornado Intensity and Response
The Paraná weather monitoring system reported that gusts reached speeds between 180 and 250 km/h, a rare intensity for this part of Brazil. Government officials, including the Minister of Institutional Relations Gleisi Hoffmann and Acting Minister of Health Adriano Massuda, visited the affected areas on Saturday to coordinate relief efforts.
“We will continue to assist the people of Paraná and provide them with all the necessary aid.” — Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Emergency Measures
Firefighters, the Red Cross, and local volunteers remain engaged in search and rescue operations, helping relocate displaced families to temporary shelters and restoring essential services.
Author’s summary
A rare tornado in southern Brazil devastated parts of Paraná, causing six deaths, hundreds of injuries, and severe infrastructure damage, prompting a nationwide emergency response.