Five people died after strong winds swept through Brazil's Rio de Janeiro and parts of Sao Paulo state on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, causing significant disruption and damage.
Residents of Rio de Janeiro were caught off guard when winds reaching up to 100 km/h struck just before rush hour, toppling dozens of trees and halting the city's three subway lines, leaving thousands stranded. The fire department reported that two people died when a wall collapsed in Rio de Janeiro, and a fisherman was reported missing in the coastal town of Tarituba.
In Santos, located in Sao Paulo state, wind gusts of up to 111 km/h caused extensive damage. Local authorities stated that a homeless person was killed by a fallen tree.
Several major airports in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo were affected. Santos Dumont Airport, Rio's downtown airport primarily serving domestic flights, suspended operations for approximately two hours.
These events led to power outages and brought public transport to a standstill in the affected regions.
Sources
South China Morning Post World, Agence France-Presse
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