Lakhs evacuated due to floods in South America
More than 100,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes in the bordering areas of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina due to severe flooding in the wake of heavy summer rains brought on by El Nino, authorities reported
By : migrator
Update: 2015-12-28 08:45 GMT
Buenos Aires
Over half a dozen people reportedly died in the floods which caused at least three rivers to swell, said reports. This year’s “El Nino,” which sparks global climate extremes, is the worst in more than 15 years, the UN weather agency, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said last month. “Severe droughts and devastating flooding being experienced throughout the tropics and sub-tropical zones bear the hallmarks of this El Nino, which is the strongest in more than 15 years,” WMO chief Michel Jarraud said in a statement.
Texas tornadoes wreak havoc
Eight people died in the greater Dallas area as a storm system brought tornadoes and flooding on Saturday, increasing the death toll from harsh weather in the southern United States this week to 26, according to officials and local media. The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes hit multiple cities in the greater Dallas area on Saturday evening, and there were reports of widespread damage and flooding. NWS meteorologist Steve Fano said roughly eight tornadoes may have touched down across seven counties, though preliminary reports could not be confirmed. Weather officials also confirmed tornadoes hitting the towns of Ovilla, Farmersville and Rowlett. Power supply was hit for thousands of people.
A Deluge of problems
- Paraguay, the worst affected South American country Paraguay saw 90,000 people evacuated from around the capital city Asuncion have been evacuated, the municipal Emergency Office said. Many are poor families living in precarious housing along the banks of the River Paraguay. The Paraguayan government has declared a state of emergency in Asuncion and seven regions of the country to free up funds to help those affected.
- In Uruguay, more than 9,000 people had to flee their homes, according to the national Emergency Office, which added that it expected water levels to remain at their current level for several days before subsiding. “We knew El Nino would have its strongest impact towards the end of spring, start of summer ... but we could not know how much,” said officials.
- In northern Argentina, around 20,000 people have had to abandon their homes, the government said today. “We are going to have a few complicated months, the consequences will be serious,” said Ricardo Colombi, the governor of the Corrientes region, after flying over the worst affected areas with national Cabinet Chief Marcos Pena.
- Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff also flew over the flooded areas on the border with Argentina and Uruguay today morning. Rio Grande do Sul state Civil Defence said 1,795 people were left homeless there after 38 towns were affected by heavy rains.
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