Itapúa, Paraguay – In the early hours of June 5, 2025, a powerful hailstorm struck the northeastern Itapúa department of Paraguay, specifically the Mayor Otaño and Carlos Antonio López districts, causing widespread damage to homes and agricultural land. The hailstones were unusually large, leaving residents deeply shocked by the sudden disaster.
Record-Sized Hailstones Shock Residents
Videos and photos taken by local residents show that the hailstones were significantly larger than usual. Giant hailstones, measuring between 5 cm and up to 8 cm in diameter, poured down from the sky, destroying house roofs and walls and denting vehicles, causing immense property damage. Some residents described the shocking situation by saying, "We thought stones were falling from the sky." The hail primarily hit densely populated residential areas and agricultural lands, exacerbating the damage.
Devastating Blow to Agriculture, Crops on the Brink of Harvest Annihilated
Mayor Otaño and Carlos Antonio López are among Paraguay's main agricultural production areas, cultivating various crops such as soybeans, corn, and wheat. This hailstorm inflicted catastrophic damage, especially on crops nearing harvest. Large areas of farmland were virtually annihilated, with crops uprooted, stems broken, and leaves shredded by the hail. This has ruined this year's harvest for farmers, severely impacting their livelihoods. Agricultural experts predict that the hail damage will significantly reduce agricultural output in the affected region, which will also negatively impact the local economy.
Meteorological Agency Issued Orange Alert, But Damage Unavoidable
The Paraguayan Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology (Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología) issued an orange alert on the night of June 4, the day before the hailstorm, for southeastern Paraguay, including Itapúa, warning of the possibility of strong thunderstorms and hail. This signified that potentially dangerous weather phenomena could occur, and the meteorological agency urged residents to be vigilant. However, the scale and intensity of the hail were much greater than anticipated, and its sudden descent during the night made it difficult for residents to prepare adequately.
Widespread Storms Cause Additional Damage Across Paraguay
In addition to the hail damage in Itapúa, strong storms accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds swept across eastern Paraguay throughout June 5. This resulted in widespread damage in several areas, including: falling trees due to strong winds, dangerous puddles (flash floods) caused by heavy rainfall, and widespread power outages. In the capital, Asunción, and the Central department, approximately 90,000 users of the state-owned National Electricity Administration (ANDE) experienced power disruptions, causing significant inconvenience to citizens. Flash floods particularly hampered vehicle traffic and increased the risk of accidents in low-lying and urban areas.
Unstable Weather Persists, Extreme Caution Required
The Paraguayan Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that unstable weather will continue in eastern Paraguay as of June 6. Temperatures will remain cool or mild, but intermittent rain accompanied by high humidity and thunderstorms is expected to continue. The meteorological agency advises residents to: continuously check the latest weather information, exercise caution when going outdoors, and especially avoid dangerous areas during strong winds and heavy rainfall.
This hailstorm and accompanying storms have caused extensive damage across Paraguay, particularly inflicting a significant economic blow to communities highly dependent on agriculture. The government and relevant agencies are meticulously investigating the extent of the damage and are expected to develop support measures for affected residents and farmers. As extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, long-term efforts to strengthen disaster prevention and response systems will be necessary.
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