Tornado Kills Two and Causes Chaos in Santa Catarina

04/22/2015 - 09h25

At least 2600 houses, a gymnasium and a health center were destroyed by a tornado which hit the west of Santa Catarina on Monday (20). Two people were killed and 120 were wounded.

The town of Xanxerê, of nearly 47,700 inhabitants, was most affected. According to Ivan Marquês, state secretary of regional development, "30% of the city was destroyed." He said that energy pylons fell, while houses and trucks were dragged by the winds.

The state declared a state of public emergency, and soldiers will be sent to help with reconstruction.

The meteorologist Rogério Rezende, from the National Meteorology Institute, said that the exact speed of the winds remains unknown, as there was no measuring instrument at the place affected by the tornado.

"From the images, I reckon the winds were from 130km/h to 160km/h, but that will only be confirmed after a technical assessment of the damage. What I can say is that it was a small tornado, that lasted between two and three minutes and hit a small area," he said.

He said the tornado should be classed as F1, on a scale ranging from F0 to F5.

VICTIMS

One of the victims was a driver who, according to witnesses, died trying to save his son. The child is in hospital in a critical condition.

According to Marques, the other victim was killed by part of a house which collapsed.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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