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Paraná River Floods Displace 4,200 Families in Paraguay
Flooding in Paraguay and Argentina’s Corrientes province has inundated homes and damaged infrastructure, with further rises in water levels possible.
Flooding along the Paraná River has forced about 4,200 families to evacuate in eastern Paraguay and inundated neighborhoods in Argentina’s Corrientes province, as authorities warn that further rainfall could worsen conditions in the coming days.
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Ciudad del Este, in Paraguay, is among the hardest-hit areas, with more than 1,000 households affected. In Argentina, a breached flood barrier in Paso de la Patria has sent water hundreds of meters inland, submerging streets and creating additional safety risks.
Heavy rainfall across the Paraná River basin has prompted civil protection agencies and local authorities in both countries to assist displaced residents, distribute sandbags and establish temporary shelters.
In Paraguay’s Alto Paraná department, the neighborhood of Remansito in Ciudad del Este has suffered severe flooding. Around 35 families involved in recycling were forced to leave their homes after their plots were inundated.
🌊 La crecida del río Paraná obligó a evacuar a unas 4.200 familias en el este de Paraguay. ⚠️ En Ciudad del Este hay más de 1.000 hogares damnificados y 35 familias del barrio Remansito debieron abandonar sus viviendas. #teleSUR #Paraguay #22Oct #AméricaLatina… pic.twitter.com/0TV9HiUCkP
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) October 23, 2026
Residents have blamed the rapid rise in water levels on the opening of floodgates at the Itaipu Binacional hydroelectric plant. The dam’s administration has rejected claims that the operation was the main cause of the flooding, saying the gates were opened in accordance with technical safety protocols for operational contingencies.
The emergency has also severely affected Paraguay’s Ñeembucú department, particularly the localities of Ayolas and Cerrito. Residents have organized community kitchens to provide food and basic supplies to evacuees.
Across the border, Paso de la Patria has become one of the most vulnerable areas in Corrientes province after an embankment near the Don Julián cabin area gave way. Water levels at the town’s port reached 7.79 meters.
The breach allowed floodwaters to advance as far as 300 meters inland, inundating the Los Pescadores, La Isla and Señoran neighborhoods, as well as areas around the Huajó stream.
The rising water has also submerged the Pinín Palma amphitheater and Isla de los Pájaros. The presence of potentially dangerous wildlife, including caimans, in residential areas has added to concerns over public safety. The flooding has also hit a town whose economy relies heavily on tourism and sport fishing.
Residents have described the difficulty of escaping the rising waters. Ismael Ali, who lives in Los Pescadores, said he was surrounded by floodwater with nowhere to go, while neighbors fled as best they could and tried to rescue their dogs.
Although the Paraná’s level in the Argentine sector fell by 40 centimeters on Friday, authorities warned that the decline might be temporary. Heavy storms continuing upstream in Brazil could cause water levels to rise by as much as another meter in the coming days.
Paraguay’s Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology has forecast continued rainfall through the weekend, raising the risk of landslides. Municipal authorities and rescue teams in both countries are continuing to distribute sandbags, open temporary shelters and monitor riverside areas. Residents have been warned to remain alert for further rainfall and possible hail.
