Flooding in Paraguay has sent 40,000 people to higher ground

ASUNCION, Paraguay – Some 40,000 Paraguayans have been evacuated in recent weeks because of flooding from heavy rains across the South American nation, authorities said Tuesday.

National emergency official Joaquín Roa said more than 10,000 of the evacuees live in the capital of Asuncion. They were moved to higher ground at military bases, public plazas and roadsides.

The other evacuees are scattered across the country along the rain-swollen Paraguay River. Its normal stage is 4 metres (13.10 feet), but it has reached 6.92 metres (22.7 feet) in the capital due to unusually heavy rains since March.

Carlos Jiménez, an official with the Bajo Chaco region ranchers association, said about 480,000 head of livestock are either standing in water or isolated on small spots of high ground.