Flooding wreaks havoc in Paraguay, over 40,00 evacuated

Some 40,000 Paraguayans have been evacuated in recent weeks because of flooding from heavy rains across the South American nation. National emergency officials report say that than 10,000 of the evacuees live in the capital of Asuncion.

Asuncion: 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 officials report that that 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.

Some flooded residents are living on the second floors of their homes but the vast majority are living in the plywood and scrap metal structures built by the government as emergency shelters.

The other evacuees are scattered across the country along the rain-swollen Paraguay River.

Its normal stage is 4 meters (13.10 feet), but it has reached 6.92 meters (22.7 feet) in the capital due to unusually heavy rains since March.

Local media is reporting that about 480,000 head of livestock are either standing in water or isolated on small spots of high ground.