Paraná coastal towns accelerate flood‑prevention works ahead of expected El Niño rains

Municipalities along the Paraná coast—including Paranaguá, Guaratuba, Antonina, Morretes, Matinhos, Guaraqueçaba and Pontal do Paraná—have stepped up preventive actions as forecasts warn of a strong El Niño-driven rainfall period in the second half of the year. Activities include desilting rivers, cleaning drainage channels, reinforcing embankments, updating municipal contingency plans, conducting evacuation drills and mapping 158 risk‑prone zones. The state’s Defense Civil Corps is coordinating the effort, deploying an alert app, and ensuring shelters, equipment and trained teams are ready before the rains arrive.

Officials cite past disasters such as the March 2011 floods that affected more than 10,000 residents, the 2022 landslides that blocked key highways, and the January 2024 floods that displaced thousands across the coast. By preparing infrastructure and response protocols now, the towns aim to limit damage, prevent loss of life and avoid the severe disruptions experienced in those earlier events.