Severe Drought Causes Dust Storms Resulting in Six Deaths in Brazil

Violent and unusual dust storms have resulted in the deaths of at least six people in São Paulo in recent weeks, according to Brazilian media, as the southeast of the country suffers from severe drought. Enormous orange dust clouds have been recorded over rural areas accompanied by winds reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, at least three times since the end of September, causing panic among residents in both urban and rural areas of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Local media reported that the six fatalities in São Paulo were victims of falling trees, buildings, and other direct consequences of the storms. Meteorologist Estail Sias told the Brazilian channel "Mitsul" that the storms were "common in some respects, but not to the extent seen in 2021." He added that they occurred "as a result of a prolonged dry period, high temperatures, and low humidity." After a dry season, rain usually falls along with strong winds. Sias noted that "the winds touch the sandy ground, carrying pollution, waste, and remnants of fires that also occur during dry periods" and emphasized that "powerful storms cannot be separated from climate change." He continued, "This century, record temperatures have been recorded every year. There is more heat in the atmosphere that has just turned into energy for extreme (weather) events: rain, storms, and floods, as well as drought, cold, and heat." He added that "what has happened is the unleashing of events like these dust storms," which "can occur in desert areas, rising thousands of meters into the sky, traveling 160 kilometers, and lasting for several hours." In addition to severe drought, there are wide open areas without vegetation in agricultural sectors, making the land also susceptible to strong winds. Brazil is facing its worst drought in 91 years, leading to a sharp decline in water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs in the central-western and southern parts of the country, which in turn causes rising electricity costs.