Meteotsunami hits southern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil

A rare meteotsunami, or meteorological tsunami, struck the southern coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil, on Monday, affecting the cities of Laguna, Jaguaruna, and Imbituba. Unlike traditional tsunamis caused by seismic activity, this phenomenon was triggered by atmospheric disturbances, including a squall line, rapid shifts in atmospheric pressure, and strong southerly winds reaching speeds of 60 to 90 km/h.

The sudden surge caused the sea level to rise abruptly around 6 a.m., flooding streets and impacting coastal areas such as Praia do Cardoso. The force of the water displaced several boats and swept away fishing nets and equipment. While most vessels were recovered, material damage was reported, including the collapse of a wall at a local church.

Authorities from the Civil Defense confirmed that no injuries or deaths occurred as a result of the surge. The event was verified through satellite imagery, meteorological radar, and tide gauge data. This phenomenon, which is difficult to predict, had previously been recorded in the same region in November 2023.