Days of heavy rain from 20 January caused flooding in the city of Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña in the province of Chaco, Argentina. Rising levels of the Parana and Paraguay rivers elsewhere in the province mean that in total around 50,000 people have been affected by flooding in the last 10 days.
Meanwhile levels of the Paraguay river in Paraguay continue to rise and have forced around 4,000 families to evacuate their homes in the capital Asunción.
Argentina
As much as 480 mm of rain fell in the city in a 5 day period from 20 January, 2018. Local media reported that 9,000 houses have been flooded and 45,000 people affected. Some have been forced to evacuate their homes and are staying in emergency accommodation in schools and public buildings.
A further 5,000 people have been affected by flooding elsewhere in the province, particularly communities close to the Parana and Paraguay rivers after levels increased over the last few days.

The provincial government of Chaco has declared an emergency and distributed supplies to affected areas including the provincial capital Resistencia and the badly hit Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña.
Other affected areas receiving relief supplies include Campo Largo, Fontana, Isla del Cerrito, El Espinillo, Bermejo, Puerto Tirol, La Tigra, Barranqueras, Colonia Popular, Las Garcitas, Vedia, Quitilipi, Puerto Vilelas, Colonia Benítez.
Social Media
Los equipos tecnicos del Ministerio de Desarrollo Social se encuentran trabajando en las zonas más afectadas de Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña @robertoacosta77 @domingopeppo @mdcapitanich @DesarrolloChaco @juliowajcman pic.twitter.com/SoPPjN2vf9
— Julieta Tayara (@JulietaTayara) January 23, 2018
Desde las áreas de @apa_chaco y @ChacoDvp realizan tareas de bombeo en #SaenzPeña para asistir a los barrios afectados por la #EmergenciaHídrica pic.twitter.com/neCFu1Q0y3
— Sec Gobierno Chaco (@Sggycch) January 24, 2018
Estamos en #SaenzPeña visitando a los vecinos afectados por las inclemencias del tiempo. Conversamos con ellos y además, recorrimos las bombas que están trabajando en calle 51 y 22 y en calle 51 y ruta 95. pic.twitter.com/krkGaHE1iB
— Domingo Peppo (@domingopeppo) January 23, 2018
#Salud te da éstas recomendaciones para prevenir enfermedades en situación de inundación #ElEstadoDeTuLado #MasSalud pic.twitter.com/n2VLEv10FR
— MSP Salud Chaco (@ChacoSalud) January 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/ChacoSalud/status/956528008139038720
El equipo de la #RS8 garantiza asistencia a los afectados por las inundaciones en Vilelas, Barranqueras y Resistencia.
Felicitamos a los equipos de los #Caps "Enrique Finochietto", "La Toma", "Villa San Martín" y "Villa Odorico" que estan prestando restan servicio permanente! pic.twitter.com/yPOMZLNRoc— MSP Salud Chaco (@ChacoSalud) January 25, 2018
#JuntosPorSaenzPeña hoy todos los #saenzpeñenses necesitamos de nuestros #hermanos #chaqueños, estamos en una situación de mierda pero vemos la solidaridad de la gente, en lo que nos puedan ayudar estamos agradecidos. gracias @lilispoljaric1 @zapi1968 @ChacoSalud @msalnacion pic.twitter.com/rGE3ksounF
— Saenz Peña CHACO (@SaenzPenaChaco) January 21, 2018
Paraguay
Parts of Paraguay have also been affected by floods from rising rivers, including in the capital, Asunción, where more than 4,600 families have been affected.
According to ECHO, the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, local authorities have assisted 3,999 of the families in 79 shelters. Flooding has also affected around 100 families in Presidente Hayes Department and 26 families in Department of Misiones.
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Resistencia
C - Barranqueras
D - Isla del Cerrito
E - Puerto Bermejo
Magnitude
Parana river, Barranqueras - January 26 to January 26, 2018
Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña - January 20 to January 21, 2018
Damages
Chaco province, Argentina - January 20 to January 30, 2018
most of the homes damaged in flash floods in city of Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña
Chaco province, Argentina - January 20 to January 30, 2018
45,000 affected in city of Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña
Related Links
Flood Summary
Locations
B - Chacarita
C - Bañado Sur
Magnitude
Paraguay River, Asuncion - January 18 to January 18, 2018
5.5 metres is critical stage, 8 metres is disaster stage.
Paraguay River, Asuncion - January 23 to January 23, 2018
5.5 metres is critical stage, 8 metres is disaster stage.
Damages
Asuncion - January 16 to January 24, 2018
Estimated figure: 3,510 families