Violent storm batters Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, killing five

A violent storm unleashed chaos across Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo state on Wednesday, with winds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour tearing through the region. The tempest left a trail of destruction, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, and paralyzing the city's metro system. Thousands were stranded as the storm caught the Brazilian metropolis by surprise during peak activity. In Santos, a homeless person was killed when a tree fell on them. Two other fatalities were reported in São Paulo state, including a fisherman whose boat capsized. In Rio de Janeiro, emergency services reported two deaths from a collapsing wall and a fisherman missing in the coastal town of Tarituba. Panic gripped locals and tourists alike, with people seeking shelter at landmarks like Christ the Redeemer and tourists fleeing beaches. Witnesses described tables, chairs, and debris being violently swept away by the wind. The storm also caused power outages in many neighborhoods and disrupted airport operations, forcing a two-hour suspension of flights. City officials attributed the severe winds to the approach of a cold oceanic front.

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Tables, chairs, everything was thrown and carried away by the wind