Strong winds and an extratropical cyclone toppled 231 trees across São Paulo, cutting power to over 1.4 million people and leading to nearly 400 flight cancellations. Enel has deployed about 1,300 workers but has not given a timetable for full restoration. City officials — including the mayor — criticized the utility's response, while water services are already disrupted as pumps fail. Repair operations are ongoing and authorities urge residents to monitor official updates.
Blackout in São Paulo: 1.4M Left Without Power, Nearly 400 Flights Canceled After Storm
Downed trees on Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on December 10, 2025, as the city records wind gusts of up to 96.3 km/h due to the passage of an extratropical cyclone. - Fabio Vieira/NurPhoto/Getty Images
More than 1.4 million residents of São Paulo were left without electricity on Thursday after powerful winds knocked down trees onto the city's power network, officials said. The outage forced almost 400 flight cancellations and disrupted critical city services, though authorities reported no injuries.
Damage, Response and Ongoing Disruption
Utility company Enel has not provided a firm timetable for restoring full service. Marcelo Puertas, an Enel director, told reporters the Italian firm has deployed roughly 1,300 workers to repair the damage after gusts of about 100 km/h (62 mph) swept across the city.
São Paulo City Hall reported that 231 trees fell after what officials described as the effects of an extratropical cyclone that formed in southern Brazil. Aviation authorities said the majority of cancellations occurred at Congonhas Airport, while Guarulhos International Airport outside the city also experienced disruptions.
Mayor Ricardo Nunes — whose administration is responsible for trimming trees near power lines — publicly criticized Enel, saying he had warned the company it was not committing sufficient resources to restore power. “Every time something happens, we are left behind without electricity,” he said, labeling the utility’s response irresponsible. Officials noted that on Wednesday the grid situation had been even worse, with more than 2 million residents briefly without power.
Footage circulated showing several vehicles bearing the Enel logo parked in the company’s downtown lot, a scene that further aggravated residents and city officials seeking faster repairs. Meanwhile, water utility Sabesp warned that pumping stations are failing in some areas because of the outage, creating additional service interruptions.
Update: Enel and municipal teams continue repair operations across the city. No official deadline for full restoration has been announced; authorities say work is ongoing and urge residents to follow municipal updates.
Impact and Advice
Travelers should check with airlines before heading to the airport. Residents are advised to conserve water and electricity where possible and to report downed power lines and public-safety hazards to local authorities.
