Argentine Iguazú National Park to reopen Tuesday as flows begin to decline
The Itaipu hydroelectric dam, jointly operated by Paraguay and Brazil on the Paraná River, had all six spillway gates open as of Monday, ABC Color reported. A social-media post by regional observer Juan Ayoroa placed the facility about 25 kilometers from the tri-border. The facility is the world’s third-largest hydroelectric plant by installed capacity, at 14,000 megawatts, according to the operator.
Paulo Zanelli Jr., coordinator of Itaipu’s flood monitoring commission, said the river basins affecting the plant have experienced significant rainfall since the second half of September under conditions influenced by El Niño, according to Brazilian outlet Paraná POP. Some monitoring stations in the Iguazú basin recorded nearly eight inches of rain in the 72 hours preceding Monday’s report, while stations in the area feeding Itaipu’s reservoir recorded more than four inches.
Argentina’s National Meteorological Service confirmed El Niño conditions in its September report and forecast they would persist through the September-November period. Itaipu’s Paraguayan director linked current operations to the same phenomenon. “We are experiencing an El Niño event,” Justo Zacarías said, according to ABC Color, explaining why spillway releases have become frequent.
In Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, about 60 families were evacuated from flooded areas, according to an update published Tuesday by La Nación. Teams are moving residents and their belongings to safety with support from municipal authorities, firefighters and military personnel. In Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, a Civil Defense assessment from Monday, cited by local media, reported that nine people needed shelter and another 16 had left their homes.
On the Argentine side of the tri-border, in Puerto Iguazú near the confluence of the Paraná and Iguazú rivers, Iguazú National Park announced its reopening Tuesday after a precautionary closure as river flows reached roughly 12,000 cubic meters per second, compared with a typical flow of about 1,500, park superintendent José María Hervás told Cadena 3. Travel influencer Modojuanchi posted video on Instagram Tuesday morning showing workers removing metal railings from the walkway leading to Devil’s Throat at Iguazú Falls; the structures were to be stored away from the river to protect them from damage. Authorities advised visitors to check which trails and walkways were open before arriving.
The Yacyreta dam downstream also opened its spillway gates on the same day and declared a hydrological emergency, according to a social-media post by regional observer Juan Ayoroa. The Iguazú River joins the Paraná downstream from Itaipu. The plant controls releases from its reservoir but does not control the water flowing over the falls, the operator said.