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The situation of residents in the Argentine towns near the rivers in the provinces of Entre Rios, Formosa, Chaco and Santa Fe is being exacerbated by the rains that have fallen in recent days, which are raising the river levels even more. EFE/File
Buenos Aires, Dec 23 (EFE).- Some 7,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern Argentina due to the rising Uruguay, Parana and Paraguay Rivers, authorities said Wednesday.
The situation of residents in the towns near the rivers in the provinces of Entre Rios, Formosa, Chaco and Santa Fe is being exacerbated by the rains that have fallen in recent days, which are raising the river levels even more.
The situation of greatest concern is in Chaco, where more than 5,000 people have been affected, especially the 2,500 residents of Cerrito Island, located at the confluence of the Paraguay and Parana Rivers, who have now been isolated.
Chaco government general secretary Horacio Rey told the state-run Telam news agency that authorities have implemented a "comprehensive assistance plan for those affected" that includes "sanitary operations, delivery of merchandise, assistance to producers and infrastructure projects to protect against the costs."
In Entre Rios, the displaced people number about 1,000 and 850 of them live in the city of Concordia, the most heavily affected by the rise in the Uruguay River and where a potable water and roadway emergency has been declared due to the flooding.
Provincial Gov. Gustavo Bordet said that the Social Development Ministry will cooperate with local assistance teams.
Some 600 people were evacuated in Formosa, all from the No. 2 city of Clorinda, and in Santa Fe province, 800 families whose homes are threatened by rising waters are being aided as the authorities build berms to protect them, according to Civil Defense officials.