Severe Floods Strike South America Due to Heavy El Nino Rains

Heavy rains linked to El Nino have caused major rivers to overflow in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, driving thousands of families from their homes and forcing ranchers to move livestock to dry ground. In Argentina's Corrientes province, the Parana River climbed to 4.7 metres on Thursday in the town of Ituzaingo, where local authorities are digging new canals and putting in drains to manage incoming water. Ranchers guided herds of cows through deep water while young calves fought against strong currents filled with floating plants.

Impact and Damage

Paraguay has recorded the highest number of evacuations. Mayor Carlos Duarte stated that over 2,000 people have left their homes in the border city of Ayolas, where the river reached a four-decade high and threatens to rise further. The rising water has also affected tourism, forcing park officials to close the walkway to the Devil's Throat at Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil. Meanwhile, the Salto Grande hydroelectric dam shared by Uruguay and Argentina has opened its gates to manage the rising Uruguay River, sending water into downstream urban areas and displacing dozens of residents.

Context

These floods are driven by three major waterways originating in Brazil—the Parana, Uruguay, and Iguazu rivers—which have spilled over their banks following intense storms. This region frequently experiences heavy rainfall during El Nino years, a global climate pattern caused by warmer Pacific Ocean waters that alters weather systems worldwide. Forecasters predict that heavy rain will continue in the coming months across Uruguay and southern Brazil, raising concerns about further flooding.