Floods in Paraguay displace 70 000 households, Paraguay River close to disaster level

Weeks of heavy rain affecting parts of Paraguay, including the capital Asunción, are causing severe flooding. The death toll stands at 16 since May 20.

As of May 28 at 8.00 UTC, 70 000 households have been displaced, 40 000 in Asunción and 10 000 in Pilar,  the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations reports.

There is a risk of the Paraguay River flooding, putting communities living along its banks at risk.

The river has reached 7.54 m (24.7 feet) on Sunday, May 26, close to the 'disaster' level of 8 m (26.2 feet). It continued rising over the past 2 days and is expected to continue to do so in the days ahead.

It's not the river's worst flood, but the impact is greater because more people live near the river now, locals told AFP.

The national armed forces are providing assistance to those affected people with food and emergency kits and to relocate the displaced.

Strong winds and intense rainfall, accompanied by thunder and hailstorms are forecast for eastern Paraguay for the central and southern departments, until late May 28.

As of May 20, the death toll stands at 16. 6 people have died in Presidente Hayes, 5 in Asunción, 3 in Ñeembucú, 1 in Concepción and 1 in Alto Paraguay.

Featured image credit: CGTN