National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) in Paraguay reports that flooding in the country has now affected 62,119 families across the departments of Presidente Hayes, Central, San Pedro, Concepción, Cordillera, Capital (Asunción), Ñeembucú, Boquerón and Alto Paraguay.
According to the country’s Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología (DMH), the Paraguay River is now at Critical Level in Asunción (Capital Region), Rosario in San Pedro Department and Pilar in Ñeembucú Department.
Departmental level emergency declarations have been issued in affected departments and in the Capital. However a National Emergency has not been formally declared.
According to recent report from UNICEF, the flooding has claimed 16 lives (6 in Presidente Hayes, 5 in Asunción, 3 in Ñeembucú, 1 in Concepción and 1 in Alto Paraguay).
Levels of the Paraguay River in the capital Asunción have been high since March this year. As of 13 May, the river stood at 7.14 metres, up from 6.75 metres of 08 May and well above critical level (5.5m). According to the recent figures, flooding has affected 36,550 people (11,422 families) in the districts of Bañado Sur, Bañado Norte, Chacarita and Sajonia.
Heavy rain and river flooding also affected the departments of Presidente Hayes, Concepción and Guairá from March this year. According to UNICEF, currently the flooding is affecting 9,192 families in Presidente Hayes, 5,000 families in Concepción and 4,500 families in Alto Paraguay. Levels of the Paraguay River are also extremely high in San Pedro Department. In Rosario, the river stood at 6.75 metres on 16 May, above the ctritical mark of 6.5 metres.
Heavy rainfall during early May increased river levels in the south of the country, affecting areas of Ñeembucú Department in particular. As of 13 May, the Paraguay river stood at 8.45, up from 7.93 metres of 08 May and now above critical level (8 metres).
As of 13 May, 10,000 families in the department were affected and 22 shelters have been set up to house those displaced by floods.
