Storm in Brazil: five dead and nearly two million homes without electricity

Gusts reaching 111 km/h hit the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, leaving five dead, ten injured and one fisherman still missing.

The storm was as brief as it was destructive. Violent winds swept across southeastern Brazil, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees in the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo regions. The provisional death toll stands at five, with ten injured.

In Rio de Janeiro, two people died after a wall collapsed. A fisherman remains missing: Colonel Tarciso Salles, commander of the state's military fire brigade, confirmed that the search for him is still underway. In the state of São Paulo, two other victims died after falling trees struck them.

Rio de Janeiro's Operations and Resilience Center recorded gusts of up to 110 km/h, while the state of São Paulo registered gusts reaching 111 km/h. A high wind warning had been issued as early as 15:30 p.m. local time, before the storm made landfall on the Brazilian coast. Within a few hours, firefighters and civil protection teams responded to 135 incidents throughout the state of Rio.

The disruptions to the power grid were considerable. More than 1,9 million people were left without electricity in the state of Rio de Janeiro alone. Transportation was also affected in several areas of both states.

Meteorologists attribute the storm to the passage of a cold front coupled with a low-pressure system. Despite the winds gradually weakening, authorities are maintaining the alert due to forecasts of heavy rain and rough seas.