Floods and destructive coastal conditions across parts of Latin America are adding urgency to international warnings about an intensifying El Niño.

Reuters reported on 22 October that storms had affected Paraguay, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. In Paraguay, the national emergency agency said the rising Paraná River had affected about 4,200 families.

Two farm workers died in Argentina’s Corrientes province while moving cattle away from flooded areas, according to local reports cited by Reuters.

In Mexico, pounding surf undermined part of a condominium complex in the Pacific coast town of San Pancho.

The events follow a World Meteorological Organization warning that the current El Niño could become exceptionally strong. Its outlook projected central Pacific temperatures around 3.8 degrees Celsius above normal between November and January.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that changes rainfall and temperatures across large regions. Its effects vary: some places experience heavier rain, while others face heat and drought.

UN officials have called for early preparation, warning of consequences for agriculture, water supplies and humanitarian services.

The forecasts describe regional risks rather than identical outcomes for every country. The damage already reported shows why local preparations remain urgent.