PARAGUAY · FLOOD
Key Facts
- —The country Paraguay, a landlocked South American country of farms and cattle ranches, shares the Paraná River with Brazil and Argentina, and that river is high after heavy rain linked to El Niño.
- —Why it matters The flood has reached Ciudad del Este, the border trade hub that is the gateway to Iguazú Falls, and river towns in the south, so travel, trade and farm work are disrupted.
- —Why now The emergency count reached 4,253 families on Tuesday 20 October 2026, up from more than 1,000 on Friday 16 October, and a new rain front is due from Wednesday 21 October.
- —What happened The Paraná River flood has hit four departments, Alto Paraná, Itapúa, Misiones and Ñeembucú, and 1,988 families have left their homes.
- —The numbers 4,253 families are affected, 1,988 are evacuated, 1,369 have received help and 2,672 are still waiting for it.
- —What it means for you Travellers in eastern and southern Paraguay should expect flooded roads and closed river crossings, and US residents there should plan for more rain.
- —Still open How much rain falls from Wednesday and whether the Paraná, which eased slightly, rises again.
- —Power Index Paraguay ranks 10th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.0 points (October 2026 edition).
The Paraguay flood on the Paraná River now affects 4,253 families in four departments, the national emergency agency SEN said in its latest count on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Of those families, 1,988 have left their homes for shelters or higher ground, while 2,672 are still waiting for help.
For US readers the flood matters because it sits on Paraguay’s borders with Brazil and Argentina, around the trade hub of Ciudad del Este and the road to Iguazú Falls, a major draw for foreign visitors. It also covers farmland and cattle country, so Americans with business, family or property in Paraguay should follow the emergency.
SEN, the Secretaría de Emergencia Nacional, is the national disaster agency, and its minister is Arsenio Zárate. On Friday 16 October he put the toll at more than 1,000 families, so the count has grown sharply in four days.
Our earlier reports, Paraguay Evacuates 60 Families as Paraná River Rises and Paraguay Flood Near Iguazú Uproots Hundreds, covered the first evacuations around Ciudad del Este. This report gives the national picture as of Tuesday.
Where the Paraguay Flood Hit Hardest
Alto Paraná, the department around Ciudad del Este, is the worst hit, with damage in Ciudad del Este, Presidente Franco, Hernandarias, Minga Guazú, La Nación reported. Crónica adds Tavapy, Juan León Mallorquín and Domingo Martínez de Irala to the list.
In Ñeembucú, in the south, the water has cut off communities in Cerrito, Mayor Martínez, Villalbín and General Díaz, La Nación said. The daily Última Hora said the Paraná has flooded thousands of hectares between Cerrito and Paso de Patria.
At Cerrito the river stood at 6.88 metres at the tourist port, a local tourism official told Última Hora, and the town has declared an emergency. The municipality warned that more than 60% of the town would feel the effects if the river rose another 40 centimetres.
River trade with Argentina is interrupted at Cerrito and Itá Corá, and Argentina’s naval prefecture temporarily closed the port at Paso de Patria for safety, Última Hora said. Commercial fishing and river tourism have stopped, and the seasonal fishing ban is close.
In Ayolas, a Paraná river town in Misiones department, Última Hora counted 686 families, or 1,949 people, in 13 temporary shelters on Friday 16 October after the river reached 6.20 metres the day before. ANDE, the state power company, had removed more than 211 electricity meters from flooded areas to prevent accidents.
A young resident of Ayolas posted an open letter to President Santiago Peña asking for a permanent coastal defence for the town. The letter shows how the flood has revived a long-running demand for flood walls along the river.
More Rain Is Due From Wednesday
Eduardo Mingo, who heads Paraguay’s meteorology and hydrology service, warned that a front from Wednesday 21 October could leave up to 150 millimetres of rain over the Paraná basin. La Nación added that storms and hail are possible, and Crónica said rain is forecast from Wednesday to Sunday across the country.
Mingo told Radio Monumental 1080 AM that the basin is already waterlogged and that rain on the Brazilian side upstream must pass through the Itaipú dam. He said that could cause new problems downstream along the whole basin.
The river eased slightly in recent days, La Nación said, but specialists warned that the pause could be temporary. Saturated soils absorb less water, so new rain runs off faster.
In the capital, the Paraguay River stood at about 2.74 metres in Asunción Bay on Monday 19 October, up 10 centimetres since Saturday, ABC Color said, citing the weather service gauge. A municipal official told Última Hora that 2,500 to 3,000 families in the Bañado Sur riverside district could be affected if the river passes 6 metres.
As we reported in Paraguay Warns El Niño Flood May Match 1983, the emergency minister warned on Thursday 15 October that a very strong El Niño could bring a historic flood. The new count shows how fast the Paraguay flood has grown since then.
Health Advice for Flooded Areas
The health ministry urged residents to boil drinking water for five minutes or disinfect it with bleach, and to throw away food that touched floodwater. It also advised repellent and closed shoes, and warned against aspirin or ibuprofen when dengue is suspected.
What It Means for You
Travellers heading to Ciudad del Este, Ayolas, Cerrito or the southern river towns should expect flooded roads, closed river crossings and limited services. The reports reviewed do not list airport or main bridge closures, so check with your airline, hotel and consulate before travelling.
Última Hora reported that thousands of cattle were moved from their usual pastures and that family food crops were lost in Ñeembucú. The sources reviewed give no figure for crop, cattle or export losses, so investors should treat any farm impact as unquantified.
Expats in Asunción and Ciudad del Este can use our Asunción expat city guide for local context. Our guides Paraguay Politics Explained and Paraguay Geopolitics Explained 2026 explain who holds power in Asunción and how the country sits between Brazil and Argentina.
What Is Not Known
The SEN report itself could not be opened for this article, so the national count rests on La Nación and Crónica, which agree on every figure. The Paraguayan reports reviewed give no death toll, and we have not confirmed any death.
The counts of evacuated, assisted and waiting families do not add up to 4,253, and the reports do not explain how they overlap. It is also unknown how many of the 2,672 families waiting for help are in shelters and how many are still in flooded homes.
No damage cost, crop loss or livestock figure has been published in the coverage reviewed. How high the Paraná will rise after the rain due from Wednesday also remains unclear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many families does the Paraguay flood affect?
SEN counted 4,253 families affected in four departments on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Of them, 1,988 have been evacuated and 2,672 are still waiting for help.
Where is the flooding worst?
Alto Paraná, around Ciudad del Este, is the worst hit, followed by Ñeembucú, where communities near Cerrito are cut off. Itapúa and Misiones, including the river town of Ayolas, are also affected.
Will the flood get worse?
More rain is due from Wednesday 21 October, with up to 150 millimetres possible over the Paraná basin. The river eased slightly in recent days, but specialists warn the pause may be temporary.
Should travellers change plans for Paraguay?
The reports reviewed describe local road cuts and closed river crossings in the east and south, and rain is due again from Wednesday. Check with your airline, hotel and consulate before travelling to flooded areas.
What is El Niño’s role in the flood?
Local outlets link the flooding to El Niño, a Pacific climate pattern that can bring heavy rain to the region. The rain forecast from Wednesday to Sunday could add to the Paraguay flood.
Sources: La Nación, 20 October 2026; Crónica, 20 October 2026; Última Hora, 20 October 2026; Última Hora on the weather warning, 20 October 2026; Última Hora on Bañado Sur, 20 October 2026; Última Hora on Ayolas, 16 October 2026; ABC Color, 19 October 2026; ABC Color, 16 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error