ASUNCIÓN – Due to heavy rain and strong winds that swept through Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, part of the outer wall of the Military Geographic Directorate (Disergemil) headquarters collapsed early on Thursday (the 5th). This accident caused extreme traffic chaos on Artigas Avenue, one of the city's main arterial roads.
The collapsed wall, part of the Military Geographic Directorate building located on Artigas Avenue, could not withstand the torrential rain and gusts of wind that began early on the 5th and consequently crumbled. The accident site is the stretch from Francisco Cussmanich Street to Peru Avenue, a notoriously congested area mainly used by vehicles entering the capital from nearby cities like Limpio, Mariano Roque Alonso, and Luque.
Occurred in Early Morning, No Casualties Reported
Fortunately, the accident occurred during the early morning hours when there were few people around, and no casualties were reported. Military officials stated that there were no personnel on duty in that area at the time of the accident, which helped avoid injuries. The Asunción City Hall immediately dispatched personnel to the scene to clear debris from the road and implement traffic control. City officials are working hard to restore and maintain the roads, cleaning drains and catch basins, and collecting trash.
Traffic Gridlock and Additional Flooding Damage
The wall collapse exacerbated traffic congestion on Artigas Avenue. Artigas Avenue, which typically experiences heavy traffic, faced severe bottlenecks from early morning due to vehicles trying to enter the capital, and some drivers struggled to find alternate routes.
To make matters worse, the Mbucuruyá stream overflowed at the intersection of Artigas Avenue and Capitán Lombardo Street, submerging the entire road. One citizen at the scene even filmed and shared footage of a bus driver bravely navigating the flooded road. With road flooding due to adverse weather combined with the collapse, traffic in Asunción was completely paralyzed.
Frequent Bad Weather and Urban Infrastructure Issues
Paraguay experiences distinct wet and dry seasons, with the wet season often bringing localized heavy rainfall or storms accompanied by strong winds. Especially in large cities like Asunción, issues with aging infrastructure due to rapid urbanization have been continuously raised. The recent collapse of the Military Geographic Directorate wall is a clear example of these problems, with criticisms suggesting that older structures and inadequate drainage facilities compounded the damage.
Last year, residents in Asunción also raised concerns about retaining walls at risk of collapse, and in fact, some retaining wall collapses did occur in certain areas. These recurring incidents highlight the necessity for a comprehensive inspection and reinforcement of urban infrastructure.
Call for Prompt Action and Future Countermeasures by Authorities
While Asunción City Hall and military authorities have responded swiftly to prevent further damage and are proceeding with road restoration, this incident has intensified calls for strengthening urban infrastructure to prepare for adverse weather and for urgent overall inspection and repair work on aging facilities. Specifically, there's a growing call to reinforce safety checks on the exterior walls and retaining walls of public institutions and large buildings located along main roads, and to establish a system for rapid response in the event of a disaster. Proactive measures and long-term planning from the authorities are demanded for the safety of citizens and smooth traffic flow.
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