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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Misiones prepares for El Niño with armed forces support

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Paraguay’s armed forces activated a contingency plan in Misiones to support authorities during possible floods, river rises and other El Niño-related emergencies.
  • Military engineers are clearing streams and waterways, moving heavy machinery and planning to make military sites available as shelters or logistics centers.
  • Authorities expect the most critical period between October and December 2026, with Ayolas, Yabebyry and Villa Florida among the areas most exposed to river flooding.

Paraguay’s armed forces have activated a contingency plan in Misiones as authorities prepare for the high risk posed by the El Niño climate phenomenon. The military will coordinate with the governor’s office and municipalities if flooding, rising rivers or other emergencies occur.

Defense Minister Óscar González said preventive work had already begun and military units were ready to intervene when needed. The Second Cavalry Division and the Second Army Corps, both based in San Juan Bautista, will coordinate operations with mayors and the governor.

The Second Cavalry Division and the Second Army Corps, which are based here, have the mission of coordinating with the mayors and the governor so that, when the time comes, our efforts are channeled properly.

· Óscar GonzálezThe defense minister described how military units will coordinate flood preparations in Misiones.

“The Second Cavalry Division and the Second Army Corps, which are based here, have the mission of coordinating with the mayors and the governor so that, when the time comes, our efforts are channeled properly,” González said. He added that President Santiago Peña had called for a national prevention operation two months earlier.

Not only the armed forces, the Government of Paraguay is committed to carrying out all possible tasks and preventive measures to lessen the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

· Óscar GonzálezHe described the broader government prevention effort.

The Engineering Command is clearing sediment from streams and waterways and deploying heavy machinery in several departments to reduce the risk of flooding. The military also plans to make its properties available to the National Emergency Secretariat as shelters or logistics centers for affected families.

The Misiones government and the Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology expect the most critical period between October and December 2026. Monthly rainfall could reach 400 to 500 millimeters, well above the average for that period. Rising Paraná and Tebicuary rivers pose the greatest risk to Ayolas, Yabebyry and Villa Florida, while intense rain could also cause urban flooding, damage local roads and harm agricultural production elsewhere in the department.

We are carrying out work to clear sediment from streams and waterways with the Engineering Command’s machinery; we are carrying out cleaning work.

· Óscar GonzálezHe outlined the military’s preventive engineering operations.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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