Flash flooding at Iguazu Falls forces closure of observation bridge
In the Iguazu National Park, located in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu, a pedestrian bridge over the falls was temporarily closed due to a sudden rise in the river. Traffic on the structure was stopped at 1:00 p.m. as a preventive safety measure.
The Iguazu River's flow rate crossed 8.4 million liters per second and continued to rise, with an expected peak of over 9 million liters per second. For comparison, the normal average for this location is around 1.5 million liters per second. The flash flood was caused by heavy rainfall in the river basin in the state of Paraná.
Despite the bridge closure, the Cataratas trail and viewing platforms remain open for excursions. At the same time, the Bananeiras and Poso Preto routes have been temporarily closed due to the high risk of flooding. Experts from Urbia+Cataratas and the ICMBio institute are monitoring the hydrological situation in real time, and access to the bridge will be restored only after the water level has receded to safe levels.
Context
Fluctuations in the volume of water in the Iguazu River are associated with the influence of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which can significantly change the seasonal rainfall pattern in southern Brazil and cause sharp jumps in water levels in the region's reservoirs.