Deadly Tornado Rips Through Paraná, Brazil, Killing at Least Five People

A violent tornado struck the southern Brazilian state of Paraná on Thursday, unleashing winds that exceeded 150 mph (240 km/h) and a deluge of rain that pounded the region for hours. The twister ripped through several rural communities near the city of Ponta Grossa, flattening homes, uprooting trees, and tossing vehicles like toys.Emergency services were dispatched immediately after reports of the funnel cloud appeared on local radar at around 3:30 p.m. local time. By nightfall, first‑responders had confirmed at least five fatalities and dozens of injuries, many of them severe. Several people remain missing, and authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue crews continue to search the debris.The storm left a stark trail of destruction: roofs were torn off, power lines were snapped, and entire sections of road were rendered impassable by fallen trees and mangled metal. In the small town of São João, a school was heavily damaged, prompting officials to evacuate students to temporary shelters set up in nearby churches and community centers. Power outages affected roughly 12,000 households, and water supplies were disrupted in several villages.Local and federal agencies have mobilized to provide assistance. The Paraná State Civil Defense coordinated with the Brazilian Army, the Red Cross, and volunteer fire brigades to deliver medical aid, food, and clean water to the hardest‑hit areas. Helicopters were deployed to reach isolated families cut off by the wreckage, while a field hospital was established in the municipal stadium to treat the injured.Meteorologists said the tornado was the result of an unusually intense mesoscale convective system that developed over the Atlantic and moved inland, colliding with warm, humid air masses over the interior plateau. “We have seen a rapid intensification of the storm cell, which produced wind speeds comparable to an EF3 tornado on the U.S. Enhanced Fujita scale,” explained Dr. Ana Ribeiro of the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET). Such strong tornadoes are rare in Brazil, making the event all the more alarming.State Governor Carlos Massa announced a three‑day state of emergency, promising additional resources for reconstruction and urging residents to stay clear of damaged structures until they are deemed safe. The federal government also pledged financial aid and pledged to send a specialized task force to assess the damage and help coordinate long‑term recovery efforts.As the community begins to grapple with the aftermath, many residents expressed shock and sorrow. “We never imagined a tornado of this magnitude could hit our town,” said Maria Silva, who lost her home and two family members in the storm. “Now we are just trying to find a way forward together.”Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the tornado or has information about missing persons to contact the emergency hotline (190) or the local civil defense office. The full impact of the disaster will continue to be evaluated in the coming days, as Brazil confronts one of the most severe weather events in its recent history.