Powerful tornado levels Brazilian town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu
At least six people have died and about 750 were injured after a powerful tornado tore through the southern Brazilian state of Paraná late on Friday, authorities said. Officials reported peak winds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) as the twister swept across the town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu.
The tornado lasted under a minute but destroyed roughly 90% of the town, which is home to about 14,000 residents. Aerial images show numerous buildings stripped of their roofs and large sections of the town flattened, while farmland and trees just outside the tornado’s path remain largely intact.
State authorities said five of the victims were from Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and a sixth came from nearby Guarapuava. At least one person is missing and officials warned the death toll could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue.
Paraná Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Jr. declared three days of official mourning. Local rescue teams, medical staff and national ministers have mobilized emergency aid including food, hygiene kits, tarps and mattresses for affected families.
"When these events hit an urban area, the damage is major. It is very lethal," said Fernando Schunig, head of the Paraná Civil Defence agency, describing the scene as a "war zone."
Health officials reported that of the roughly 750 injured, 10 have undergone surgery and nine remain in serious condition. Cinthia Kelly Somariva, director of a nearby hospital, said staff were still assessing the scale of the medical response: "It was a very sad and intense night. There were lives lost."
Local residents described sudden devastation. Gilberto Brecailo said his mechanic shop was reduced to rubble: "All we have left are our clothes and our documents. My livelihood is gone." Marileia Chagas said she sheltered under a bench as winds threw her against a structure and later found much of her neighbourhood destroyed.
The storm struck as Brazil prepared to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP30 in Belém. Climate scientists warn that warming temperatures and higher atmospheric moisture can increase instability and wind shear — conditions that can make tornadoes more frequent and intense.
Authorities continue search-and-rescue efforts, damage assessments and distribution of relief supplies. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with victims on social media and ministers announced the dispatch of federal assistance to the affected region.
