Strong Winds Disrupt Traffic on Brazil's Rio‑Santos Highway

On the night of 17 May, strong winds battered the Rio‑Santos stretch of BR‑101 along Brazil's Costa Verde, toppling branches and trees onto the roadway. The fallen debris partially blocked traffic in both directions at several points, including km 383 in Rio de Janeiro, km 412‑413 in Itaguaí, km 417, 419 and 436 in Mangaratiba, and km 433‑435 and 491 in Angra dos Reis.

The concessionaire CCR RioSP activated its Operational Control Center at 01:50 h and dispatched emergency crews to clear the obstructions. No serious accidents were reported. Motorists were advised to reduce speed, keep a safe distance, and, if conditions worsened, stop in a safe location until the road was clear.