A tornado, along with powerful winds and heavy rainfall, struck the southern Brazilian state of Parana, resulting in the death of six individuals, as confirmed by the state government on Saturday. The town most severely affected was Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, where over half of the urban area experienced roof collapses and various structural damages, with blocked roads and damaged power lines reported by the state’s civil defence agency. About 437 individuals received medical treatment for injuries, and approximately 1,000 people were displaced, with the nearby city of Guarapuava also facing consequences from the natural disaster.
The Parana Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring System documented that the tornado’s winds ranged from 180 km/h to 250 km/h. Minister of Institutional Relations Gleisi Hoffmann announced plans to visit the affected area on Saturday, accompanied by acting Health Minister Adriano Massuda and other federal officials, to offer support in relief operations and reconstruction efforts.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed condolences to the families of the victims on the social media platform X, pledging continued assistance to the people of Parana. The situation in Brazil was highlighted as world leaders gathered for COP30, a global climate summit, in Belém, Brazil, amidst concerns of escalating climate change impacts and potential challenges to international cooperation on climate action.