A powerful tornado, packing winds up to 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph), tore through cities in Brazil’s southern state of Paraná on Saturday, leaving at least five people dead and approximately 430 injured. Nine of the injured are reported to be in serious condition.

The destructive weather event, confirmed by the national Civil Defense agency, unleashed widespread chaos across the region bordering Paraguay. The hardest-hit municipalities were Río Bonito do Iguaçu, which reported four fatalities, and Guarapuava, where one person died. At least 14 other municipalities in the state have since declared a state of emergency.

Cities Collapsed Under Storm’s Fury

The intensity of the storm, characterized by strong winds, heavy rain, and hail, was particularly devastating for Río Bonito do Iguaçu, a city of around 13,500 residents. Civil Defense estimates suggest nearly 80% of its buildings were destroyed. The powerful gusts ripped roofs from dozens of homes and toppled countless trees and utility poles, plunging the community into darkness.

“Between 80 and 90 percent of the city has collapsed,” stated Col. Hudson Leoncio Teixeira, Paraná’s Secretary of Public Security, underscoring the catastrophic scale of the damage. In the immediate aftermath, more than 3,000 homes in Río Bonito do Iguaçu remained without essential electricity and water services into Saturday morning, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.

Meteorological Forces and Broader Regional Impact

Meteorological services confirmed the destruction was caused by a tornado that formed within a “supercell” – extreme thunderstorms known for their prolonged duration and a distinct rotating updraft. This particular supercell unleashed its destructive force across a wide swath of Paraná.

The severe weather isn’t isolated to Paraná. Neighboring southern Brazilian states, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, have also declared states of emergency. They are currently grappling with an extratropical cyclone moving northward, which has added to the regional meteorological challenges. Further north, the governorship of São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, issued alerts to residents in several municipalities, warning of the potential arrival of this cyclone later on Saturday.

Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and coordinate relief efforts as communities begin the daunting task of recovery.