Flooding has affected nine departments, forced families to relocate and prompted rescue operations as forecasters warn of more rain.
Flooding caused by heavy rainfall and the overflowing Paraná River has affected at least 3,000 families across nine departments in Paraguay, prompting emergency assistance and the relocation of thousands of families as authorities warn of further rainfall, according to the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN).
The southern departments of Ñeembucú, Misiones and Itapúa have been among the hardest hit, with floodwaters inundating homes and forcing emergency crews to distribute food, plastic sheeting and construction materials to affected residents.
The flooding has also affected Central, Guairá, Caaguazú, Concepción, San Pedro and Canindeyú, extending the emergency across nine of the country’s 17 departments.
In Misiones, the municipality of Ayolas has been particularly hard hit because of its proximity to the Yacyretá Dam, which is jointly managed by Paraguay and Argentina. Around 1,040 families in the area have received assistance, according to the SEN.
Rescue operations have also extended to animals. The nonprofit organization SOS Animal Ayolas has rescued about 247 pets trapped in flooded areas in recent days.
In Alto Paraná, along the border with Brazil, at least 1,300 families have been relocated. Water levels in the Paraná River have fallen slightly in the area, reaching 117.57 meters above sea level after approaching 121.19 meters on Thursday.
Firefighters from Bombers Pel Món, an organization based in the Spanish municipality of Valencia, have joined local emergency crews in assisting communities affected by the flooding near Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
Despite the recent decline in water levels in Alto Paraná, Paraguay’s Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology has warned of a high probability of further rainfall from Wednesday through Sunday, with the greatest impact expected in the country’s Eastern Region.
Flooding along the Paraná River has affected thousands of families in Paraguay, prompting evacuations, rescue operations and emergency aid. Photo:
Flooding in Paraguay as the Paraná River overflows, affecting thousands of families and prompting emergency evacuations.
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