Six people lost their lives and over 700 were injured after a powerful tornado struck the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Authorities describe it as one of the most severe weather events in the region's history.
The state's climate monitoring agency, Simepar, reevaluated the tornado that hit on Friday, upgrading it from an F2 to an F3 classification after thorough analysis of the damage and weather data.
“In terms of magnitude, it was certainly the most devastating tornado we’ve ever had” in Paraná, said Simepar meteorologist Lizandro Jacobsen, as quoted by Bloomberg.
Images released by Paraná’s Civil Defense revealed extensive damage in the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, with homes, vehicles, and roads severely affected. More than 90% of the town suffered impact from the tornado.
Officials are working to restore essential services like water and electricity as relief efforts continue.
Summary: The tornado in Paraná represents a historic and devastating weather event with severe impacts, highlighting the increasing frequency of extreme weather in southern Brazil.