At least five people were killed and more than 400 were injured when a powerful tornado struck Rio Bonito do Iguaçu in southern Brazil’s Paraná state, local officials said Saturday.
The Paraná Civil Defense confirmed the deaths and warned that the death toll could rise as search teams combed the debris for missing residents. Two people are still missing.
How bad was the Brazilian tornado?
Winds of between 180 to 250 kilometers per hour (110 to 155 mph) ravaged the town of 14,000 people, destroying homes, uprooting trees and overturning vehicles. Officials described the scene as a “war zone.”
Photos shared on Brazilian media showed widespread damage, with entire roads leveled and brick homes collapsed. Civil protection chief Fernando Schunig said the tornado struck directly through the city center, making it particularly deadly.
Governor Ratinho Jr. told X that state security forces are on alert and assisting affected communities. The National Meteorological Institute continues to issue severe hurricane warnings for Paraná and the neighboring states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
“Teams are already deployed to assist the families and provide all necessary assistance,” he said.
Institutional Relations Minister Gleisie Hoffmann said she was traveling to the region with Acting Health Minister Adriano Masuda and other officials to coordinate relief and reconstruction efforts.
Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
“We will continue to assist the people of Paraná and provide all necessary assistance,” he said.
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah