
Following a powerful extratropical cyclone that swept across south-central Brazil last week —bringing heavy storms and a tornado that devastated parts of Paraná and Santa Catarina— meteorologists are warning that the country faces a continued risk of similar weather events through the end of the year.

Authorities in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná have declared a State of Public Disaster in the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu following a catastrophic tornado that struck on Friday night, leaving six people dead and causing widespread destruction.

The 21-year-old shooter who killed two teenagers at a high school in the Brazilian State of Parana earlier this week was found dead in his cell Tuesday night, authorities said. The circumstances of his death are under investigation, Parana's Public Security Secretariat also explained.

A 16-year-old female pupil was killed Monday at the Professor Helena Kolody School in the city of Cambé in the Brazilian State of Paraná when a former student walked into the premises carrying a gun, Agencia Brasil reported citing local authorities.

In chaotic Argentina, grains inspectors have launched a 24-hour strike that is halting shipments at key Parana river ports in farm transport hub Rosario, the ports chamber CAPyM said on Monday, April 17.

The Argentine government of President Alberto Fernández Friday announced it was extending the declaration of emergency for another 180 days in the Paraná River area as water levels remained at historically low levels.

Argentine President Alberto Fernández has appointed the members of the Ente Nacional de Vía Navegable Paraguay-Paraná (Paraguay-Paraná Waterway National Agency), the body which oversees operations of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway.

Brazil's Beach Monitoring Project, PMP, reports that more than 6,700 penguins have arrived mainly on Santa Catarina and Parana states coast during the migration season this year, which represents a 20% per cent increase in the number of marine birds coming over last year.

The historical downspout of the Paraná River has led Yacyretá, Argentina's biggest hydroelectric plant, to work at around 50% of its normal capacity, which has a direct impact on supply to the electrical system.

A single BRF SA unit accounted for about 29% of COVID-19 cases at slaughterhouses in Brazil’s Parana state, according to the most recent data available, underscoring the challenges for stemming outbreaks at meat plants.