Before and after the tornado that destroyed 90% of cities in Parana state

credit, Daniel Castellano/AFP via Getty Images

photo caption, Meteorologists said the phenomenon was caused by an extratropical cyclone that hit the southern part of the country.

- author, essay
- roll, BBC News Brazil
18 minutes ago

Three days after a tornado struck Rio Bonito do Iguacu in the interior of Paraná state, images show the scale of the destruction.

Scenes before and after the phenomenon pass reveal a city essentially destroyed, with streets covered in rubble, schools reduced to rubble, and entire neighborhoods without electricity.

The tornado, which Simepar classified as EF3 strength (on a 5-point scale), touched the ground on Friday afternoon (July 11) with winds of up to 250 km/h.

Seven people were killed and more than 750 injured across the state, according to Civil Defense. In Rio Bonito do Iguacu, where about 14,000 people live, 90% of buildings were destroyed.

Due to the magnitude of the impact, Governor Lacinho Junior declared a state of public disaster on Saturday (8/11).

Rescue teams described the scene as “war-like”, with power poles and vehicles twisted and families trying to salvage what was left of their homes.

The images below show the extent of the destruction and how the winds have completely changed the local landscape.

In addition to Rio Bonito do Iguacu, two other tornadoes were confirmed by Simepal. One is Guarapuaba and the other is Turbo, and they formed during the same storm system that affected the southern part of the country.

Meteorologists say the phenomenon is caused by the formation of an extratropical cyclone, which is also responsible for strong winds and heavy rain in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states.

A BBC News Brasil investigation based on state government data shows more than 1,000 people have become homeless and are still relying on shelters or assistance from neighbors and relatives.

Hospitals in nearby cities, including Laranjeiras do Sul, Guarapuaba and Cascabel, continue to be mobilized to treat victims.

Those killed in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu included three men (49, 57 and 83 years old) and two women (47 and 14 years old). A 53-year-old man died in Guarapuaba.

As of early Sunday morning (9/11), 32 people remained hospitalized, with four in the ICU but not at risk of death, the state said.

Mayor Cesar Augusto Bovino reported: “The force of the storm forced many people to return home. Many vehicles were trapped under rubble and houses were completely destroyed.”

In the city, schools, health centers, community centers, and other facilities are being used as temporary evacuation shelters. The Department of Education of the State of Paraná has suspended Enem 2025 applications in the municipality, and affected students will be given the right to reapply.