Six dead and hundreds hurt after severe tornado leaves trail of destruction through Brazil
Six people died and hundreds were injured as a result of the severe hurricane that affected the south of Brazil, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Strong winds of up to 255 kilometers per hour ripped through the southern state of Parana late Friday, bringing with it a deadly tornado that unleashed its fury in less than a minute.
While the fast but powerful hurricane destroyed approximately 90 percent of the town of Rio Bonito do Iguacu, images show that the region was almost completely flattened.
Images of the natural disaster also show roofs blown off houses, power poles down and vehicles overturned in the town of about 14,000 people.
After the hurricane that occurred around 17.30 local time, approximately 60,000 houses in the region were left without electricity.
The six people who died in Rio Bonito do Iguacu include three men, ages 49, 57 and 83, and two women, ages 47 and 14. Another 53-year-old man was killed in the nearby city of Guarapuava. One person is still missing.
About 750 people were injured and about 1,000 were displaced, officials said.
Injured citizens, including children and pregnant women, were taken to hospitals and health units in the region. At least ten people underwent surgery, nine of whom are in critical condition.
Destruction following the hurricane that hit the city of Rio Bonito do Iguacu in Parana State, Brazil, on November 8, 2025
Authorities in Brazil’s southern Parana state have declared a state of public disaster in municipalities hit by an unprecedented hurricane that killed at least six people and injured 750, leaving 90 percent of the city in ruins.
The hurricane destroyed most of a town in southern Brazil, killing at least six people and injuring about 750 others, authorities said Saturday.
Authorities said that cars rolled over like toys and destroyed buildings in the town of Rio Bonito do Iguacu, with a population of 14,000 in Parana state, due to the hurricane on Friday evening.
While the fast but powerful hurricane destroyed approximately 90 percent of the town of Rio Bonito do Iguacu, images show that the region was almost completely flattened.
Images of the natural disaster show that the roofs of houses in the town of approximately 14,000 people were blown off.
The numbers may rise further as rescue forces are still obtaining information from family members.
Information on homeless and displaced people is also still being collected, according to the government’s latest update.
Rio Bonito do Iguacu mayor Caesar Augusto said 80 percent of the town was ‘on the ground’.
He added: ‘It rained very heavily and about 80 per cent of the city was left in ruins.
‘The force of the storm knocked down power lines, ripped roofs off buildings, destroyed structures and caught many people returning home.
‘There are many vehicles under the debris. At least three people, including two elderly people, died. ‘There are also many injured people and hospitals are overcrowded.’
Speaking in the aftermath of the disaster, he was quoted as saying: ‘There are many injured people with head wounds.
‘We have at least three teams of doctors and nurses outside the hospitals combing the city to see if there are any people trapped under the rubble.’
Paraná Governor Ratinho Júnior called the hurricane “an unprecedented disaster in the history of the state.”
‘It is unlikely that any house, even a commercial building, will survive. “We’ve seen silos, gas stations collapse,” the governor added.
A state of ‘public disaster’ was also declared in the state, allowing the government to take emergency measures to mobilize resources and request federal support.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
A vehicle destroyed by a hurricane in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Brazil, 08 November 2025
Paraná Governor Ratinho Júnior called the hurricane an ‘unprecedented disaster in the history’ of the state
People try to remove debris from the tornado with winds of up to 255 miles per hour
Damaged trees and debris after hurricane ripped through Rio Bonito do Iguacu
A state of ‘public disaster’ was also declared in the state, allowing the government to take emergency measures to mobilize resources and request federal support.
Brazilian television channel Climatempo, which specializes in weather forecasts, reported that the hurricane was associated with a cold front and could generate winds of over 100 km per hour in states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.
In a post on
‘And I offer my solidarity to all the people affected. A team consisting of the Ministries of Health and Regional Integration and Development, led by Minister Gleisi Hoffmann, is heading to the region.
‘National Civil Defense technicians specializing in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction have already departed for the cities, and professionals from the National SUS Force will provide assistance to citizens and Paraná state government teams dealing with rescue and assistance to victims.
‘We will continue to support the people of Paraná. And we are providing all the necessary assistance.’
Brazilian television channel Climatempo, which specializes in weather forecasts, reported that the hurricane was associated with a cold front and could generate winds of over 100 km per hour in states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.
The forecast shows that the event will move across the sea by Sunday, affecting the coasts of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.
Authorities urge the public to avoid open areas and be careful around structures, trees and power lines due to the risk of falls and accidents.
