'Iguazu, One of the World's Three Great Waterfalls, Tourists Missing After Heavy Rain'

Heavy Rain in South America Increases Flow Rate Over 10 Times
14.5 Million Liters Per Second Flowing Under Waterfall
Flood Damage Continues in Brazil, Venezuela, and Others

Iguazu Falls, known as one of the world's three great waterfalls along with Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls, is located on the border between Argentina and Brazil. A total of 275 waterfalls spread out in a horseshoe shape. Argentina occupies 80% of the falls, while Brazil occupies the remaining 20%. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] The flow of Iguazu Falls, famous as one of the "world's three great waterfalls," surged rapidly due to heavy rain last week. As a result, an incident occurred where a man who tried to take a selfie at Iguazu National Park, which briefly allowed entry last weekend, went missing.

Along with Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls is known as one of the world's three great waterfalls and is located on the border between Argentina and Brazil. A total of 275 waterfalls spread out like a horseshoe. Argentina occupies 80% of these, while Brazil occupies the remaining 20%. The incident occurred at the Bosetti Falls (Salto Bosetti) on the Argentine side.

According to Argentine media InfoBae on the 17th (local time), a man fell from a bridge on the Iguazu Falls walking trail at 11 a.m. that day and went missing. The man, a tourist visiting Iguazu Falls with other tourists, is presumed to have slipped and fallen into the water after climbing onto the railing to take a selfie. A witness said, "A man was swept into the water and fell over the waterfall, disappearing from the surface."

The Argentine Navy, local police, firefighters, and park officials are conducting a search for the missing person, but the national park spokesperson said they are having difficulty entering due to the large volume of fast-flowing water.

Due to heavy rain last week, the entrance to Iguazu Falls on the Argentine side has been closed since the 11th. As of the 12th, authorities in Paran? state in southern Brazil reported that about 400 houses in 24 counties were damaged and over 1,200 people became displaced. On the 10th, a landslide caused by heavy rain occurred in the central Venezuelan mountain city of Las Tejer?as, killing 36 people and leaving 56 missing.

However, on the weekend of the 15th, Iguazu National Park reopened, allowing tourists to enter as usual from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, the Argentine side walkway, which offers a close view of the park's most famous spot, the "Devil's Throat," was closed to visitors.

In addition to the missing person incident, part of the Indian Bridge was reported to have broken and submerged on the 16th. Atilio Guzm?n, director of Iguazu National Park, said, "It is premature to speak about the exact extent of the damage," and "The date for the full reopening of the park has not yet been decided."

Iguazu Falls typically experiences reduced water flow from April to September, the dry season, and increased flow starting in October with the rainy season. However, a national park official on the Brazilian side stated that the amount of water this October is unusually high.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.