Strong rains and subsequent floods in the Argentine port city of Bahía Blanca, a distant about 635 kilometers away southwest of Buenos Aires, claimed 13 victims and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes, Informed on Saturday local authorities. Parts of the city are underwater and in some areas the supply of electricity has been interruptedwrites TASR, according to the AFP report.
At least five victims died on the road, probably after the rapidly rising water trapped them in cars. Mayor Bahía Blanca said the number of victims can still grow and added that so far They evacuated more than 850 inhabitants.
According to local media, many shops and hospitals in the city are flooded and night looting have also reported. They also informed about two missing girls aged four and one year.
Heavy rain started on Friday morning local time and More than 400 millimeters of rainfall fell in the area within eight hours. According to the local officials this amount in the city with approximately 350,000 inhabitantsI usually fall in a year.
Minister of National Security Patricia Bullrich described the city of Bahía Blanca as “destroyed”. The government approved emergency assistance for its renewal of EUR 10 billion of Argentine Pesos (approximately EUR 8.6 million).
In December 2023, a strong storm swept through the city, which caused the roof to collapse on the sports hall. The Argentine authorities also reported 13 dead.
