A tornado, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, devastated the southern Brazilian state of Parana, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives, as reported by the state government on Saturday. The town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu bore the brunt of the disaster late Friday, with over half of the urban area experiencing roof collapses and numerous structural failures. The aftermath left roads impassable and power lines in disarray.
The state’s civil defence agency disclosed that 437 individuals received medical treatment for injuries, and approximately 1,000 people were forced to evacuate, impacting the nearby city of Guarapuava as well. The Parana Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring System indicated that the tornado’s winds reached speeds ranging from 180 km/h to 250 km/h.
In response to the catastrophe, 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 extend support for relief operations and reconstruction efforts. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences to the victims’ families via the social media platform X, emphasizing the government’s commitment to aiding the people of Parana.
[Image: Aerial view of destroyed buildings after a tornado hit – Another view of the destroyed buildings in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Brazil, following the tornado. (Parana State Government/Reuters)]
The devastation caused by the tornado underscores the urgent need for assistance and solidarity in the affected region. The government remains steadfast in its support for the recovery and rebuilding process in Parana.