Argentinian authorities briefly closed tourist access to the Iguazu Falls on Monday. The precautionary measure was taken by national park officials due to rapidly rising water levels in the Iguazu River, which exceeded 12,000 cubic metres per second – more than six times its average rate.
Heavy rainfall, fuelled by a supersized El Niño weather pattern, was cited as the cause. José María Hervás, director of the Iguazu national park, stated that access was closed because "it just keeps raining" and the volume of water from upstream dams was not decreasing.
The area was expected to reopen to tourists on Tuesday, following a reported "gradual decline" in the river’s flow.