The Municipality of Asunción is moving forward with the development of emergency protocols and the preparation of temporary shelters to address the effects of the El Niño climate phenomenon. Under orders from Mayor Luis Bello, the General Directorate for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (DGRRD) is implementing preventive measures in coordination with the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), aiming to protect families settled in the capital's riverside areas.
Currently, the Paraguay River level in Asunción stands at 3.15 meters, which keeps the alert status in effect and requires ongoing monitoring of hydrological indicators. Reports project that the flow could reach levels considered critical — between 3.80 and 4 meters — by the end of this month, a scenario that would require the immediate activation of evacuation protocols.
"We are preparing the entire necessary setup so that we can activate our emergency protocol and safeguard the safety of people living in the vulnerable areas of the city of Asunción," stated Eduardo Olmedo, operational chief of First Response. The strategy prioritizes the identification and conditioning of municipal land for use as organized shelters, preventing the proliferation of makeshift settlements on roads and public spaces.
Depending on the magnitude of the flooding, there are plans to once again rely on agreements with private institutions and civil organizations that have historically collaborated in previous episodes, although the current priority is to optimize the use of public spaces. The DGRRD already has a stockpile of basic supplies for initial assistance, including metal sheets, mattresses, and blankets for families that may need to be evacuated.