A severe hailstorm struck the city of Erechim in southern Brazil on Sunday, November 23, with hailstones described as the size of baseballs or chicken eggs causing widespread damage. The storm, which began suddenly at around 4:40 pm local time, affected almost all neighbourhoods in the city, prompting the local government to declare a state of emergency.
Incredible video footage posted to Reddit shows a home being battered by the massive hailstones, with windows and glass doors struck repeatedly. The roof of the property was riddled with holes, and water poured into bedrooms and a hallway. A YouTube video by DisasterToday compiled numerous clips of the storm, showing high winds and the large hailstones falling from the sky.
According to local authorities, around 5,000 homes were severely damaged and 30,000 homes affected by the storm. The violent winds accompanying the hail toppled power lines and poles, blocking roads and causing power outages across the city. Fallen trees disrupted transportation, and electrical cables scattered along the streets posed a danger to the public.
Emergency services were inundated with calls from the start of the storm. Firefighters, civil defence, and municipal crews worked to respond to structural damage, remove fallen trees, and assess the damage. Authorities advised residents to stay indoors and only go outside if absolutely necessary, warning of risks from electrical cables and potential structural collapses.
Residents reported that the intensity of the hail surprised even those accustomed to severe weather in the region. Many said that although they had seen hailstorms before, this one was on a completely different scale. The storm has been described as one of the worst natural disasters in the city's history.
