Paraguay declares red alert due to Pilcomayo river’s overflowing

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Paraguayan Ministry of Public Works declared on Monday, January 31, a red alert due to the overflowing of the Pilcomayo river, whose waters are advancing in the Chaco, due to the sustained rains in Bolivia.

Both Argentina and Bolivia had already declared a red alert in their territories due to the river’s overflowing. Paraguay has joined them, and predictions indicate that the flooding could continue.

Arturo Niedhammer, president of the National Commission of the Pilcomayo river of the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC), said in communication with the local press that the alert’s purpose is for the population to be aware of a possible flood. Likewise, cattle ranchers are urged to remove their animals from the area.

On the other hand, the National Commission of the Pilcomayo river member explained that the passage of water to the Montelindo river, north arm, has already been enabled so that the water flows towards the Paraguay river.

Arturo Niedhammer warned that the situation could be catastrophic if new rains were added to the overflow. The alert level is 6.5 meters and is currently at 6.49 meters. It is estimated that if the flood reaches 7 meters, a catastrophe could occur.

The rise of Pilcomayo’s water levels is usual for this time of the year, but the excessive rains in Bolivia could cause the overflows in the Paraguayan Chaco region.

It is very likely that what happened with the great flood of 2012, when several towns had to be helped by air, will be repeated. At the moment, there are significant overflows in several riverside areas. For this reason, the situation is already being analyzed by the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN).

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