Iguazu River surge forces closure of Garganta del Diablo walkway

A sudden rise in the Iguazu (Iguaçu) River flow, reaching about 9 million litres per second – roughly six times the normal rate – prompted park authorities to close the main walkway to the Garganta del Diablo attraction on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the waterfalls. The surge, driven by heavy rains in southern Brazil and Paraguay and amplified by El Niño‑related conditions, pushed the river from around 2 700 m³/s to over 9 000 m³/s within 24 hours.

The closure is a preventive safety measure; the lower and upper circuit trails remain open to visitors while the main passarela is shut until the flow falls to a safe range of 7.5‑8 million litres per second. Engineers have begun to dismantle railings to protect the structure, and monitoring continues continuously. The walkway was briefly reopened on 24 July after the flow receded, but the Garganta del Diablo circuit stays closed indefinitely pending further assessments.

Tourists are advised to avoid the restricted area and follow park guidance. The incident affects the major trans‑border tourism site shared by Brazil and Argentina.