Paraná River flooding forces thousands from homes in Paraguay's Ayolas
Flooding on the Paraná River has forced thousands of people from their homes in Ayolas, Paraguay, La Nación and Telefuturo reported. Paraguay's emergency center put the number at 3,438 on Friday, La Nación reported. The town's mayor said the high water could last until about February.
The rising Paraná River has forced more than 3,400 people from their homes in Ayolas, in Paraguay's Misiones department, the Paraguayan newspaper La Nación reported Friday, citing the national Emergency Operations Center. A total of 3,438 residents have been evacuated, La Nación reported. Earlier Friday, broadcaster Telefuturo put the figure at more than 2,000 evacuees and more than 600 affected families, citing Mayor Carlos Duarte.
Telefuturo called it the worst Paraná flood recorded in Ayolas since 1983, with the river at 6.30 meters. Later Friday, Duarte put the level at about 6.40 meters and said the latest report from the Yacyretá dam authority showed it reaching 6.50 meters, La Nación reported. Duarte spoke in an interview with the GEN channel and Universo 970 radio, which belong to La Nación's media group.
Duarte said the high water could last until about February, La Nación reported. The evacuees are spread across 14 shelters, Duarte said, La Nación reported. The hardest-hit neighborhoods were San Josemi, María Auxiliadora, San Antonio and Quindy, he said.
Residents moved into the town's main school because it sits on high ground, forcing classes to move to a local university, Telefuturo reported. Paraguay's National Emergency Secretariat and the armed forces are helping, along with patrols rescuing trapped pets, Telefuturo reported.
Across the river in Argentina, 472 people have left their homes in Corrientes province as the Paraná and Uruguay rivers rise, Infobae reported, citing Civil Defense. That includes 206 people evacuated and 266 who left on their own, Infobae reported. Infobae tied the floods to persistent rain and regional effects linked to El Niño. Provincial Civil Defense chief Bruno Lovinson said some people in the city of Corrientes had already left their homes on their own, according to Infobae.
Official forecasts showed the Paraná topping 7 meters at the city of Corrientes, a level that triggers the evacuation protocol, Infobae reported.
What we know: Thousands of people in Ayolas have left their homes as the Paraná River stays high, and hundreds more have left in Argentina's Corrientes province.
What we don't: When the water will start to fall and how many more people may need to leave on both sides of the river.
Where outlets agree La Nación and Telefuturo both report that the rising Paraná River has forced thousands of people from their homes in Ayolas.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.