Monster Tornado Devastates Brazil’s Paraná
At least six people were confirmed dead and more than 700 were injured after a powerful tornado tore through the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Authorities described it as one of the most extreme weather events ever recorded in the region.
Following damage assessments, the state’s climate monitoring agency, Simepar, upgraded the tornado from category F2 to F3, indicating severe intensity.
“In terms of magnitude, it was certainly the most devastating tornado we’ve ever had in the state of Paraná,” said Lizandro Jacobsen, meteorologist at Simepar, as quoted by Bloomberg.
Images shared by Paraná’s Civil Defense revealed catastrophic destruction in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu. Houses were demolished, vehicles overturned, and roads left impassable. Officials reported that over 90% of the municipality suffered damage, while teams worked to restore water and electricity.
The US National Weather Service defines an F3 tornado as “severe,” with wind velocities between 158 and 206 mph (254–331 km/h). Torrential rains across southern Brazil this November have led to multiple state-of-emergency declarations, underlining the growing frequency of extreme weather events in this key agricultural region.
Author’s Summary
A rare F3 tornado struck Paraná, Brazil, killing six and injuring hundreds, while exposing the increasing vulnerability of southern Brazil to extreme weather.