Violent storms ravaged Brazil on Friday, resulting in at least eight fatalities and leaving thousands stranded without electricity. The National Institute of Meteorology reported that central and southeastern regions experienced winds reaching up to 100 km/h (60 mph) and daily rainfall of up to 10 cm (4 in).
The hardest hit area is São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, where seven deaths occurred primarily due to falling trees and infrastructure damage caused by the severe weather. Witnesses in southeastern Brazil described the storm as short-lived yet incredibly intense.
As blackouts ensued across large portions of São Paulo state, residents faced not only power outages but also issues with water supply. Reports indicate that over 1.3 million homes and businesses remain without electricity, with the energy company stating it aims to restore power by Monday. Frustrated residents in the Parque São Roberto neighborhood protested on Saturday after more than 24 hours without power.
In Brasilia, the situation escalated as one soldier tragically lost his life and another was injured at the military police headquarters. The rain was so heavy that officials inside the Chamber of Deputies, Brazil’s lower house of congress, were compelled to use umbrellas to shield themselves from leaking water.
Despite the chaos, many in Brasilia welcomed the rains as much-needed relief after enduring more than 165 days without precipitation. The recent storms follow what has been described as Brazil’s worst drought on record, largely attributed to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.
This dry spell has exacerbated wildfires nationwide, decimating large swaths of the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands while enveloping major cities in smoke. Data indicates that wildfires in the Amazon reached a two-decade high for the month of July, underscoring the urgent environmental challenges facing the country.
