A significant storm in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, has led to at least ten deaths and the evacuation of over 1,000 residents. Officials have stated that extensive rebuilding will be necessary due to unprecedented rain. Emergency funding of 10 billion pesos has been approved to assist with recovery efforts, while looting and power outages have compounded the city’s challenges.
On Saturday, a senior official from Buenos Aires province announced, “We have to rebuild a city,” following a devastating storm that resulted in at least ten fatalities in Bahia Blanca, located south of the Argentine capital. This unfortunate event prompted the evacuation of over 1,000 residents from their homes in the affected area, as local media reported that two young sisters, aged four and one, remain unaccounted for.
Carlos Bianco, Buenos Aires government minister, stated on the local radio station Futurock, “The national and provincial governments are collaborating to deal with the storm,” emphasizing the dire needs of those affected, saying, “Basically, we have to rebuild a city. There are people who lost everything.” The Bahia Blanca mayor’s office confirmed ten deaths, attributing at least five of these to flooding on roadways.
The city’s population of 350,000 could see the death toll increase, as at least 1,128 individuals were reported evacuated by early Saturday. The torrential rains began on Friday morning, with total rainfall reaching an unprecedented 15 inches (400 millimeters) in just eight hours, as noted by provincial security minister Javier Alonso.
Images from local media depicted devastated businesses and instances of looting during the night. The government has sanctioned emergency reconstruction funding of 10 billion pesos (approximately $9.2 million at the official exchange rate) to aid in recovery efforts. Although much of the coastal area experienced power outages, local electric utility services managed to restore power to around 30,000 users by Saturday morning.
Bahia Blanca has previously endured severe weather disasters, including a storm in December 2023 that resulted in 13 deaths. Nearby, the resort town of Mar del Plata cancelled evening activities on Friday and advised residents to stay indoors. The city of Buenos Aires also experienced the effects of the storm but did not suffer significant damage.
In conclusion, the profound impact of the recent storm in Bahia Blanca, which resulted in at least ten fatalities and numerous evacuations, has necessitated urgent reconstruction efforts. With unprecedented rainfall causing extensive flooding, local and national authorities are collaborating to support the affected population. Emergency aid has been authorized, yet the region has a history of weather-related disasters that further complicates recovery.
Original Source: www.france24.com
