"Look, There's a Tornado": Unprecedented Disasters Strike Simultaneously

Southern Brazil has suffered severe damage from a series of storms that brought a tornado, large hail, strong winds, and torrential downpours all at once. In late July, massive tornadoes struck mainly around the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, instantly turning peaceful villages into ruins.

Compounding the crisis, golf ball-sized large hail battered the area, shattering house roofs and vehicle windshields, while torrential rain in some regions flooded roads and left villages submerged in muddy water. Residents recounted the tense situation, saying, "Everything collapsed in a matter of minutes" and "It was pure terror."

The disaster caused accidents where people were crushed by structures and trees toppled by strong winds, and an offshore fishing boat capsized, resulting in a total of five deaths. Following record-breaking flooding in 2024, southern Brazil is once again experiencing extreme weather events this year.

Experts have raised the possibility that climate change and heatwaves are further fueling atmospheric instability, pointing out the urgent need to establish disaster response systems tailored to an era where extreme weather has become the norm. 

Reported by Jung Kyoung-woo | Video by Jang Yu-jin | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by Morning Wide Part 3