Tornado devastates Chapecó, destroys airport and leaves incalculable damages; see photos

A tornado in Chapeco, west of Santa Catarina, caused a scenario of destruction on Wednesday morning. With gusts of wind reaching 126 km/h, according to records from the National Meteorological Institute (Inmet), the phenomenon tore up roofs, damaged buildings, compromised the supply of electricity and destroyed part of the structure of the Serafim Enoss Bertaso Airport, which had its operations suspended indefinitely.

The intensity of the storm surprised residents and caused damage in different regions of the municipality. Images recorded after the tornado passed show twisted metal structures, torn roofs and debris scattered across the streets.

During a visit to the airport, the mayor of Chapecó, Valmor Scolari (PSD), described the situation as "total destruction, incalculable damage". The head of the municipal Executive also reported that the administration is evaluating the possibility of decreing an emergency situation to deal with the damage caused by the phenomenon.

Airport destroyed and flights suspended

One of the most affected locations was the Serafim Enoss Bertaso Airport, an important air terminal that serves Chapecó and municipalities in the region.

The force of the wind has torn away part of the metal roof of the main entrance, broken windows and damaged internal structures and hangars. Emergency teams were mobilized to assess the risks and carry out the removal of the debris.

The Voe Xap concessionaire, responsible for the administration of the airport, has ordered the suspension of landings and take-offs for an indefinite period.

The company said that technical teams carry out inspections on the infrastructure to identify the damage and establish the necessary conditions for the resumption of operations.

Passengers with scheduled trips were instructed to seek directly from airlines for information on cancellations, rebookings and possible changes to flights.

Houses and thousands of homes without power

In addition to the airport, the tornado caused destruction in residential and commercial areas of Chapecó.

The Seminary and Esplanade neighborhoods were among the most affected. There were records of torn roofs, falling structures on vehicles and interruptions in the supply of electricity and communication services.

The storm also affected rural communities, where the lack of electricity harmed productive activities, especially milk production, which depends on refrigeration.

Municipal teams worked on clearing roads, evaluating damaged properties and assisting affected families.

According to figures released on Wednesday, more than 200,000 homes were without electricity in Santa Catarina during the storms.

Defesa Civil confirms tornado and monitors damage

The Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina confirmed the occurrence of tornadoes in Chapecó and Xanxerê during the passage of an intense line of instability through the West of Santa Catarina.

In Chapecó, the Defesa Civil weather station recorded winds close to 93 km/h, while Inmet equipment identified gusts of up to 126 km/h.

The phenomenon occurred amid a sequence of storms hitting Santa Catarina since the beginning of the week, with records of heavy rain, hail and storm surge.

In the face of weather conditions, the state government suspended the face-to-face classes of the state network on Wednesday (4) and Thursday (5), as a preventive measure to protect students and education professionals.

Storms in the South also require attention on the Paraná

The passage of the instability system through the South of Brazil also put the Paraná in attention for possible storms.

The action of cold fronts and areas of instability can cause intense gusts of wind, heavy rain, fall of trees and damage to the electrical network.

For residents of Ponta Grossa and Campos Gerais, the recommendation is to keep up to date with Simepar and Defesa Civil do Paraná newsletters, especially in the face of the possibility of rapid changes in weather conditions.

In situations of risk, the population should avoid staying close to trees, poles and metal structures during winds. Emergency incidents can be reported to Defesa Civil, by phone 199, or to the Fire Department, by 193.