The government confirms at least five dead and 100 injured; a Category 3 tornado struck cities in the Central-South and West regions, destroying 80% of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu.
The Paraná government confirmed at least five deaths and 100 injuries, 30 of them serious, after a tornado swept through the state on Friday afternoon (7). The phenomenon, caused by an extratropical cyclone, mainly affected Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Candói, and Porto Barreiro, causing widespread destruction in the central-south and west of the state.
In Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Mayor Sézar Augusto Bovino reported that 80% of the city’s properties were damaged or completely destroyed. According to him, people are buried under the rubble of a supermarket that collapsed during the storm. Civil Protection and Fire Department teams remain in the area, working to remove debris and assist the victims.
According to Governor Ratinho Junior (PSD), the tornado that struck Paraná was a Category 3, with winds exceeding 250 km/h. In a social media post, the governor stated:
Civil Defense and our security forces are on alert, mobilized, and monitoring the cities affected by the severe storms. Our solidarity extends to all the people in the affected regions. We remain on high alert.
Simepar confirmed the tornado around 11:10 p.m. Videos circulating on social media show completely destroyed houses, overturned cars, and streets covered in debris. In addition to Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, the municipalities of Cantagalo, Laranjeiras do Sul, Nova Laranjeiras, and Porto Barreiro also suffered roof damage, flooding, and power outages.
