On the night of November 7, 2025, the southern Brazilian state of Paraná was rocked by a tornado of extraordinary force, leaving a trail of devastation, heartbreak, and uncertainty in its wake. According to the Associated Press, the tornado’s winds surpassed 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph), leveling communities and transforming quiet towns into disaster zones within minutes. The aftermath has left six people dead—including a 14-year-old girl and five adults—with more than 750 others injured, many of them children and pregnant women.
In the hardest-hit municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, the destruction was nearly total. State officials estimate that around 90% of the residences and commercial buildings in the town suffered damage, a number that’s hard to fathom until you see the aerial footage: roofs torn away, silos collapsed, gas stations flattened, and entire blocks reduced to little more than rubble. Paraná Governor Carlos Massa Ratinho Jr., visibly shaken, described the tornado as an “unprecedented catastrophe in the history” of the state. “It’s unlikely that any house, or even a commercial building, will remain standing. We saw silos collapsing, gas stations,” Ratinho Jr. said, as reported by local authorities.
The tornado’s ferocity was not limited to Rio Bonito do Iguaçu. Guarapuava, another city in Paraná, also suffered loss, with one of the six confirmed fatalities—a 53-year-old man—hailing from there. The other victims included three men aged 49, 57, and 83, and two women, aged 47 and 14, all from Rio Bonito do Iguaçu. As of Saturday, at least one person remained missing, and the toll could rise as rescue teams continue to sift through debris and gather information from anxious families. The government’s latest update noted that data on the number of homeless and displaced individuals is still being compiled, underscoring the chaos and uncertainty that linger after such a disaster.
Medical teams have been working around the clock to treat the injured. More than 750 people required medical attention, with at least ten undergoing surgery and nine listed in serious condition, according to state authorities. The scenes inside local hospitals have been described as harrowing, with doctors and nurses stretched thin as they care for a flood of wounded residents, including many children and expectant mothers. The tornado’s brute force downed trees, overturned vehicles, and peeled roofs from structures, leaving hazards at every turn and complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Ratinho Jr. declared three days of mourning throughout Paraná, a gesture meant to honor the dead and unite the state in collective grief. “We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe in the history of our state,” the governor reiterated, emphasizing the scale of the destruction and the urgent need for solidarity. On social media, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences and solidarity with the victims, while members of his Cabinet quickly announced the dispatch of emergency assistance to the affected areas. The federal government’s support includes food, hygiene products, tarps, mattresses, and other essentials for families who lost everything overnight.
The declaration of a "state of public calamity"—a legal step that allows the state government to mobilize resources more quickly and request federal aid—has enabled authorities to act swiftly. Emergency shelters have been set up, and distribution centers are working to get supplies into the hands of those most in need. The state’s meteorological service, Simepar, confirmed that the tornado’s winds may have topped 250 km/h in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, marking it as one of the most powerful tornadoes in the region’s recorded history.
Climatempo, a Brazilian weather channel, reported that the tornado was associated with a cold front sweeping across southern Brazil. This meteorological setup, experts say, is capable of producing violent storms and wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h in neighboring states such as Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. The same weather system is forecast to continue moving across the sea until Sunday, November 9, potentially affecting coastal areas including Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. Authorities have urged the public to stay indoors, avoid open spaces, and remain vigilant around structures, trees, and power lines, all of which are at risk of collapse or falling debris.
For the survivors, the immediate future is fraught with uncertainty. Many are now homeless, their possessions scattered or destroyed, and their communities unrecognizable. Local officials are still working to assess the full extent of the damage and to locate those who remain missing. The outpouring of support from across Brazil has been heartening, with volunteers, emergency workers, and neighbors banding together to clear debris, distribute aid, and offer comfort to those who have lost loved ones.
As the region begins the long process of recovery, questions remain about the increasing frequency and intensity of severe weather events in southern Brazil. While tornadoes are not unheard of in the region, the scale of this disaster has prompted renewed calls for improved early warning systems and disaster preparedness. For now, however, the focus remains on the immediate needs of the survivors—providing shelter, medical care, and the reassurance that they are not alone in their time of need.
In the words of Governor Ratinho Jr., “We need to unite all our efforts to help those who lost everything.” As Paraná mourns its dead and begins to rebuild, the resilience of its communities—and the solidarity shown by Brazilians nationwide—offers a glimmer of hope amid the ruins.