Brazil Suffers Over 10 Casualties from Massive Dust Storm Caused by Worsening Drought

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Following wildfires and severe drought in Brazil, a massive dust storm struck S?o Paulo state, causing multiple casualties.

According to Brazilian media on the 2nd (local time), the dust storm hit the inland areas of S?o Paulo state the previous day, resulting in a series of accidents with at least four deaths and six injuries. In the Tup? area of S?o Paulo state, a man died after being trapped under a collapsed residential fence, and in the Santo Ant?nio do Aracangu? region, three people lost their lives after losing their sense of direction in the dust storm and being unable to escape burning grasslands.

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, a dust storm covered areas from Franca in northeastern S?o Paulo state to parts of neighboring Minas Gerais state, causing power outages and other damages.

Brazil is experiencing its worst drought in over 90 years, which has prolonged and caused damage in various regions. As water levels in the Xingu River, which runs through Par? state in the north, decrease, the operation of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant?the world's third largest, located in the Amazon rainforest?is at risk of being halted.

In the central-west, south, and southeast grain-producing regions, agricultural output has declined, which is expected to contribute to domestic price increases as well as rising international grain prices.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.