Six Dead, Hundreds Injured After Tornado Strikes Rio Bonito do Iguaçu
A powerful tornado with winds reaching 250 km/h devastated the southern Brazilian town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu on Friday night, leaving at least six people dead and around 750 injured. The town, home to about 14,000 residents in Paraná state, suffered catastrophic destruction.
Officials reported that the intense storm overturned cars, leveled buildings, and left much of the area unrecognizable within minutes. Aerial photos revealed vast sections of the town reduced to rubble, with scattered debris covering the streets.
On Saturday morning, residents began searching through the ruins of their homes in hopes of recovering whatever possessions they could save. According to authorities, about 90% of the town sustained damage, affecting homes, schools, and local businesses.
“I arrived home and found myself without a roof over my head,” said 51-year-old Nereu Sabadini, who was working outside the town when the tornado hit. “I’m homeless, and rebuilding will take some time.”
“It destroyed the town, houses, schools. What will become of us?” said shop owner Roselei Dalcandon, standing next to what remained of her store.
Widespread Destruction Across Paraná
The Paraná state government confirmed at least six deaths resulting from the tornado. Local authorities have started emergency responses, providing temporary shelters and medical assistance to the injured as rebuilding efforts begin.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as vehicles were tossed aside and entire buildings flattened in seconds. Survivors now face the daunting task of reconstructing their community from the ground up.
Author’s summary: A devastating tornado in southern Brazil left six dead and hundreds injured, wiping out most of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and prompting large-scale recovery efforts.