Paraguay: Nationwide flooding displaces 70,000 people as of May 27 /update 1

Event

Multiple parts of Paraguay are being affected by significant flooding as of Monday, May 27, including the capital Asunción. At least 70,000 people have been displaced in recent days due to the flooding, including 40,000 in Asunción and another 10,000 in the southern town of Pilar. According to the General Directorate of Management and Risk Reduction of Disasters, the Paraguay River’s water levels are 46 cm (18 in) below “disaster” level. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) warned on Sunday, May 26, that if water levels continue to rise, it would have a “very strong impact” on Asunción residents in the city’s floodplain. Other areas along the Paraguay River, including Rosario, Pilar, Fuerte Olimpo, and Alberdi are also at serious risk if the river reaches disaster level. The government has deployed the armed forces to assist the affected communities and help displaced residents relocate, but some families have opted to stay behind. Further flooding and evacuations are possible in the coming days as additional rain is forecast throughout the country through Wednesday, May 29.

Context

According to the DMH, Asunción has experienced unusually heavy rainfall throughout the month of May. Earlier in the month, two days of rain exceeded the regions average monthly rainfall.

Advice

Individuals in Paraguay, particularly Asunción, are advised to monitor flood levels and local weather alerts, anticipate road closures and other transportation disruptions, and remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain chemical products and wastewater; all items having come into contact with floodwater should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.