Asunción Suffers from Smoke Plume Blown by Fires in Drought-Stricken Argentina
A massive cloud of smoke, stretching hundreds of meters high and several kilometers wide, has rapidly moved across southern Paraguay, covering Asunción and surrounding regions. This smog, originating from wildfires in Argentina fueled by years of severe drought, created hazardous conditions for residents.
The thick, grey haze enveloped Paraguay’s capital late Monday, filling the air with the pungent smell of burnt vegetation. Authorities urged citizens to stay indoors to avoid inhaling the harmful smoke.
In Ayolas, a southern district where fires have been burning since early January, the smoke was so dense that birds, confused by the darkness, took shelter in trees as if it were nighttime. Ray Mendoza, a local volunteer firefighter, described the scene as unprecedented in his 20 to 25 years of experience. “In a matter of minutes, the city was plunged into complete darkness,” he said.
Air quality index readings for particulate matter soared from single digits to over 180, approaching levels categorized as “very unhealthy” by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dramatic footage shared on social media captured the towering dust and ash cloud racing across the Paraná River from Argentina’s Corrientes province, 250 km south of Asunción, blanketing everything in its path, including beaches, farmland, and highways.
