Aerial photograph showing the destruction caused by a tornado in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu (Brazil)
BRASILIA, Nov 9 (NNN-TELESUR) — Authorities in the Brazilian state of Paraná have declared a state of public calamity in the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu following a historic tornado that left at least six people dead, over 750 injured, and approximately 10,000 displaced across 14 municipalities near Brazil’s border with Argentina.
The disaster struck on the night of Friday, Nov 7, flattening nearly 90% of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu—the hardest-hit area, where five of the fatalities occurred. The sixth victim died in a rural area of Guarapuava. One person remains missing, and more than 50 firefighters are still conducting search-and-rescue operations.
Preliminarily classified as an F2 tornado on the Fujita scale—equivalent to wind speeds between 180 and 250 km/h —the storm was accompanied by torrential rains and hail. Paraná’s Civil Defense noted that wind speeds in some areas may have exceeded 250 km/h.
The tornado caused widespread destruction, including collapsed roofs and buildings, the toppling of more than 250 power poles and three high-voltage transmission towers, and severe damage to roads and infrastructure.
About 75% of customers of the state-owned utility Copel remain without electricity, while Sanepar, Paraná’s water and sanitation company, has activated an emergency plan to provide drinking water after the main water system collapsed.
On Saturday, Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Júnior visited the affected region, announced the creation of a task force dedicated to rebuilding homes, and declared three days of official mourning. The national high school exam (Enem), scheduled for Sunday in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, has been postponed.
The federal government responded immediately, dispatching emergency teams coordinated by Chief of Staff Minister Gleisi Hoffmann. The deployment includes personnel from the Ministries of Health and Regional Development, experts from the National Civil Defense, and professionals from Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
The tragedy in Paraná coincides with the upcoming COP30 climate summit, set to begin Monday, November 10, in Belém, with Brazil assuming the presidency of the conference.
Environmental scientist Carlos Rittl, Global Director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Brasil de Fato that the tornado underscores the urgent need for concrete climate action.
He emphasized that the climate negotiations must respond not only to the victims in Paraná, but also to communities worldwide battered by extreme weather, such as those in Jamaica recently hit by the strongest hurricane ever recorded there. — NNN-TELESUR
