Severe windstorm devastates São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, killing three and spurring emergency response

A powerful windstorm struck the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in late July 2026, with gusts reported up to 120 km/h. The storm caused the deaths of three people – in Santos, São Sebastião and Cesário Lange – and resulted in widespread damage, including fallen trees, roof losses, power outages and the sinking of a fishing boat.

The Ministry of Public Prosecution of São Paulo (MPSP) began monitoring the government's actions, meeting with local officials and the civil defence to assess recovery measures. In Nova Iguaçu, municipal teams cleared debris, restored electricity and reopened 145 schools, most health centres and social‑service facilities, allowing about 95 % of schools to resume classes. Guidance documents were also released to help public managers protect children in emergency shelters.

A week after the storm, the João Rock music festival was held in Ribeirão Preto, drawing roughly 65 000 attendees. The event highlighted a return to normalcy, with performers such as Tico Santa Cruz remarking, “Se Deus não estiver em você, ele não vai estar na igreja, no pastor, no padre, em nenhum líder religioso.”