Uruguay River Floods Salto Streets, Authorities Concerned About Further Rises

The Uruguay River continues its relentless rise, flooding streets in the city of Salto and raising serious concerns among authorities and residents. The river's water level reached 11.56 meters on Monday, significantly exceeding the usual average of 3 meters at the Salto port.

Florencio Sánchez street, located just four blocks from Salto's center, is submerged, as are Colón and Varela streets, which connect the southern part of the city to the center. Authorities have urged extreme caution for the public, especially during nighttime travel.

Officials anticipate the river's level could climb to 11.80 meters by Tuesday, an increase of at least 30 centimeters from Monday's readings. This unexpected surge has caught many off guard, as flood warnings had previously indicated a potential rise during the spring months of September and October.

A family of six living on the corner of Cervantes and Florencio Sánchez streets found floodwaters in their yard. Having lived there for 15 years, they are accustomed to evacuations. The homeowner, Andrea, reported that they are packing their belongings in boxes, preparing to stay with relatives or rent alternative housing while awaiting assistance from the CECOED (Emergency Operations Committee). "We are very worried about what might happen; the authorities had told us the rise would come in the spring, so we didn't expect it now," she stated.

Despite the current high water levels, officials from the Emergency Committee noted that the flood might not surpass the safety threshold of 12.30 meters for Salto. The phenomenon of El Niño is expected to intensify in September and October, potentially leading to more significant flooding in the region.

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We are very worried about what might happen; the authorities had told us the rise would come in the spring, so we didn't expect it now.