A powerful tornado tore through a town in southern Brazil on Friday, killing at least five people and injuring more than 130, according to local authorities.
The violent storm struck the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu in Paraná state, flipping cars, ripping apart homes, and leaving a trail of destruction across the community of 14,000 residents.
“Five deaths have already been confirmed as a result of the tornado,” Paraná’s civil defense agency told AFP. Officials said around 30 people sustained serious or moderate injuries, while approximately 100 others suffered minor wounds.
Meteorologists reported that wind speeds in the area reached 180 to 250 kilometers per hour (110–155 mph), strong enough to uproot trees, shatter structures, and damage brickwork.
Local authorities described scenes of widespread devastation, with emergency teams scrambling to clear debris and assist affected families.
Paraná Governor Ratinho Junior said on X that security forces were “on alert, mobilized, and monitoring the cities affected by the severe storms.”
Weather agencies issued a dangerous storm alert for all of Paraná and the neighboring southern states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, warning that conditions could worsen.
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