Nearly one and a half million people without power in São Paulo
More than 1.4 million residents of the Brazilian city of São Paulo have been without power for hours. Extremely strong winds have caused several trees to fall onto power lines, snapping them.
This is the second time this week that residents of Brazil’s largest city have been without power due to persistent storms.
According to local authorities, no injuries were reported, but nearly 400 flights were canceled. The grid operator says it’s not yet clear when power will be fully restored. The energy company has called in hundreds of additional workers to repair the damage.
Strong winds have also led to hundreds of flight cancellations since Wednesday, causing confusion at São Paulo’s two airports, among the busiest in Latin America , local media reported.
AENA, which operates Congonhas Airport, said in a statement that 39 arrivals and 28 departures were cancelled on Thursday.
Blame on energy company
According to the municipality, a total of 231 trees have fallen in the city. Mayor Nunes accuses energy company Enel of “not doing everything possible” to fix the problems. “Every time something happens, we’re without power,” Nunes said. He also calls Enel “irresponsible.”
With 12 million inhabitants, São Paulo is by far the largest city in South America. It is also the economic center of Brazil.
Six dead and hundreds injured by tornado in Brazil
At least six people were killed by a tornado in the Brazilian state of Paraná. More than 400 were also injured. The municipalities of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and Guarapuava were hit hardest.
In Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, four adults and a 14-year-old girl were killed. In Guarapuava, a 53-year-old man was killed, CNN Brasil reports.
The tornado reached speeds of over 250 kilometers per hour, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The local government has declared a state of emergency.
“There were reports of vehicles being blown over, trees falling and stone houses collapsing,” a meteorologist from Simepar said .
Local authorities are warning residents that damaged buildings, trees and power lines could still collapse or fall.
“We continue to monitor and analyze the images from the photographs and aerial photographs in collaboration with Civil Protection. If necessary, we can reclassify the intensity of the phenomenon, because it was extremely severe,” says the meteorologist.
President Lula da Silva expressed his condolences. “We will support the people of Paraná and provide all necessary assistance.”
