Severe storms swept through Brazil on Friday, killing at least eight people and leaving thousands without power.
According to the National Meteorological Institute, central and southeastern areas of the country were hit by winds of up to 100 km/h (60 mph) and daily rainfall of up to 10 cm (4 inches).
Seven people were reported dead in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, mainly due to strong winds and heavy rains that toppled trees and infrastructure.
Residents of the southeastern state described the sudden downpour as brief but intense.
Much of Sao Paulo state has been without power since Friday, and water supply problems were also reported.
Energy company Enel said more than 1.3 million homes and businesses were still without power. The company said it planned to restore power by Monday.
Previously, residents of the San Roberto Park community in Sao Paulo state held a pot-banging protest on Saturday after the power was out for more than 24 hours.
In the capital Brasilia, a soldier was killed and another wounded at the Gendarmerie headquarters.
Local media reported the rain was so heavy that officials inside Brazil’s lower house of Congress were forced to use umbrellas indoors as water leaked from the roof.
However, many in Brasilia welcomed the storm as the relief they had long awaited after more than 165 days without rain.
In recent months, Brazil has experienced its worst drought on record, which experts believe is mainly related to Climate change and El Niño weather phenomenon.
Dry weather has fueled wildfires across the country, destroying much of the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal and filling major cities with smog.
The number of wildfires in the Amazon surged to a two-decade high in July, according to government data.
