Severe Storms Cause Deaths and Widespread Destruction Across São Paulo State

Severe storms hitting the state of São Paulo between Friday, September 11, and Saturday, September 12, resulted in at least one death and significant infrastructure damage. The São Paulo State Civil Defense recorded 25 occurrences including flooding, landslides, and fallen trees. In the capital, a building collapsed in the Penha neighborhood leaving at least two people dead, while other residential collapses in Sapopemba and Jabaquara left dozens of people displaced. The state reported 23 people homeless and 66 displaced overall. Wind gusts reached up to 92.6 km/h in Piraju, and rainfall was exceptionally high in several cities. Cotia recorded 151 mm of rain over 48 hours, while the Alto Tietê region saw 99.2 mm in just 12 hours. In the city of São Paulo, September rainfall reached 148.1 mm by September 12, which is 124.7 percent above the expected monthly average. The storms caused major traffic disruptions, including the closure of sections of the Marginal Tietê in the capital and the Régis Bittencourt highway. In the interior, Sorocaba experienced flooding that pushed the Rio Sorocaba nearly two meters above normal levels and caused a wall at the Municipal Kennel to collapse. In Sumaré, approximately 100 homes were affected and residents were rescued by boat. The Civil Defense issued 15 Cell Broadcast alerts and established a crisis cabinet to coordinate emergency responses. Weather forecasts indicate that instability may continue through Sunday, with potential for further rain and strong winds.