[El Niño triggers heavy rainfall and floods in many South American countries] October 18th: Affected by the strong El Niño event, many countries in South America have experienced continuous heavy rainfall in recent days. The water levels of the Parana River, Uruguay River and Iguazu River have continued to rise, resulting in floods in many places in northeastern Argentina, southern Paraguay and western Uruguay, leaving thousands of people homeless. Among them, Paraguay was severely affected. In the city of Ayoras, which borders Argentina, more than 2,000 people have been evacuated. Local officials said the water level of the Paraná River reached its highest level in more than 40 years and may continue to rise. The Brazilian Meteorological Department predicts that rainfall in southern Brazil will remain higher than normal in the coming period, and water levels in the Paraná, Uruguay and Iguazu rivers may continue to remain high.