The drama of the “isolated” families quarantined by the historic lowering of the Paraná river

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Argentina faces another extraordinary situation: the historical downpipe of the Paraná river. For more than a week, the height in the port of the city of Santa Fe has been between 83 and 84 centimeters, an unpublished record in the last 50 years.

The river began to descend with notoriety in early March, when it reached 2.99 meters and since then it was “losing” centimeters until reaching the record of 1.50 meters, to then continue decreasing until the current measurement.

This phenomenon did not occur several decades ago and the lack of water in the coastal landscape of the region is notable, where now you can see its muddy soil and vegetation, usually hidden. It is also appreciated how the banks grew and the residues are also exposed.

The downspout of the river allows you to see the muddy soil and the vegetation, usually hidden. (Photo: TN air capture)

A team of TN, headed by Gustavo Tubio, toured Puerto Gaboto, one of the most affected areas in the province of Santa Fe, and the captured images are alarming. “I never saw it like that. It looks like a desert “, says a neighbor as he walks through the heavy sand, where the river used to circulate.

The lack of water not only affects the landscape, but several settlers were affected. Especially the island residents who were stranded, since navigation is practically impossible. Thus, a group of neighbors organized to bring aid and distribute food in those areas. “We make a journey by boat, as far as possible, and then we walk. It is the only way to get there and help, ”commented one of the volunteers.

Puerto Gaboto, one of the most affected areas in the province of Santa Fe. (Photo: TN air capture)

From the National Institute of Water (INA) warn that for the next few days the river level in Santa Fe could reach 87 cm, that is, it would remain within the margins of the last days. While, for May 19, a slight increase of only a few centimeters is forecast.

The climatic conditions of the next days are not favorable for the historical drought. (Photo: TN air capture)

At the same time, they clarified that “the conditions that determine the downspout in progress persist in the basins that contribute to the flow in the Paraná river in Argentine territory. The future evolution of the levels in this section of the river will strongly depend on the spatial distribution and amounts of rainfall. The climatic trend is still unfavorable”