Severe flooding in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, has left ten dead and prompted mass evacuations due to record rainfall. Over 400 millimeters of rain inundated the city, leading to emergency responses and infrastructural damage. As recovery efforts begin, further storms may threaten the area.
Severe flooding has struck Bahia Blanca, Argentina, leading to significant devastation and prompting emergency evacuations. In just eight hours, the city received unprecedented rainfall, forcing the evacuation of the Jose Penna hospital, which serves the city’s 350,000 residents. Emergency services, including military personnel, assisted in rescuing approximately 1,000 individuals from the inundated areas.
Local authorities have reported six fatalities due to the flooding, with concerns that the number may increase as rescue efforts continue. The city experienced over 400 millimeters of rainfall in a short duration, which equals its entire annual precipitation, an occurrence deemed “unprecedented” by security minister Javier Alonso.
Alonso compared this storm to a major event in 1930, which saw 175 millimeters of rain, indicating that the recent deluge was nearly three times as severe. The impact on local infrastructure is significant, prompting the closure of Bahia Blanca’s airport and power supply interruptions to prevent electrical hazards. The provincial government is providing essential aid, including helicopters and trucks with supplies, to assist impacted residents.
The community has shared distressing personal accounts of the flooding, including Flavia Viera Romero’s experience of over a meter-and-a-half of water entering her home, compelling her to save her children. As recovery efforts are underway, the meteorological service has issued alerts for possible additional storms in the region, keeping residents on high alert.
The flooding in Bahia Blanca has led to tragic loss of life and significant community disruption. With record-breaking rainfall and widespread evacuations, the city faces a considerable recovery challenge. Emergency services are actively engaged in rescue operations, while local authorities remain vigilant for potential further storms moving forward.
Original Source: sharjah24.ae
