Argentina declares national mourning as flood death toll hits 16
BAHIA BLANCA, Argentina: Argentina announced three days of national mourning late Sunday after authorities raised the death toll from recent flash flooding to 16, with more still missing.The deadly floods struck Friday when a year's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours in and around Bahia Blanca, a major port city located in the south of Buenos Aires province, with entire neighborhoods inundated by the fast-rising waters.The Latin American nation has been particularly shaken by tragic reports of two girls, aged one and five, being swept away in the torrent.Provincial security minister Javier Alonso confirmed their disappearance Sunday, saying the sisters had climbed onto the roof of a van with their mother to escape the rising waters when a surge ripped them away. Their mother was rescued.Divers were continuing to search the area, where more than a meter of water remained, Alonso told the Radio Mitre outlet.Bahia Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles, meanwhile, told a press conference that the flooding had caused $400 million in infrastructure damage.Later, in a post on X, he said 'there are 16 confirmed deaths, but there are likely to be more' as search efforts continue.The storm left much of the surrounding coastal area without power. At one point, city officials in Bahia Blanco suspended electricity due to the huge amount of water in the streets.Argentine President Javier Milei 'will declare three days of national mourning' for the deaths, his office said late Sunday, without specifying when the period would begin.'All areas of the national government will remain dedicated... to assisting the victims in this moment of sorrow for all Argentines,' the presidency said in a statement.The government has authorized emergency reconstruction aid of 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million at the official exchange rate).Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi offered his condolences on Instagram to the victims' families'Much strength to all those who are having a rough time in this difficult moment,' he wrote.Environment official Andrea Dufourg said this weekend that the extreme weather event 'is a clear example of climate change.''Unfortunately this will continue to take place... we have no other option than to prepare cities, educate citizens, establish effective early warning systems,' said Dufourg, who is director of environmental policy for the city of Ituzaingo outside Buenos Aires.Bahia Blanca has suffered past weather-related disasters, including a storm in December 2023 that claimed 13 lives. It caused houses to collapse and provoked widespread infrastructure damage.
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Arab News
10-03-2025
- Arab News
Argentina declares national mourning as flood death toll hits 16
BAHIA BLANCA, Argentina: Argentina announced three days of national mourning late Sunday after authorities raised the death toll from recent flash flooding to 16, with more still deadly floods struck Friday when a year's worth of rain fell in a matter of hours in and around Bahia Blanca, a major port city located in the south of Buenos Aires province, with entire neighborhoods inundated by the fast-rising Latin American nation has been particularly shaken by tragic reports of two girls, aged one and five, being swept away in the security minister Javier Alonso confirmed their disappearance Sunday, saying the sisters had climbed onto the roof of a van with their mother to escape the rising waters when a surge ripped them away. Their mother was were continuing to search the area, where more than a meter of water remained, Alonso told the Radio Mitre Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles, meanwhile, told a press conference that the flooding had caused $400 million in infrastructure in a post on X, he said 'there are 16 confirmed deaths, but there are likely to be more' as search efforts storm left much of the surrounding coastal area without power. At one point, city officials in Bahia Blanco suspended electricity due to the huge amount of water in the President Javier Milei 'will declare three days of national mourning' for the deaths, his office said late Sunday, without specifying when the period would begin.'All areas of the national government will remain dedicated... to assisting the victims in this moment of sorrow for all Argentines,' the presidency said in a government has authorized emergency reconstruction aid of 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million at the official exchange rate).Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi offered his condolences on Instagram to the victims' families'Much strength to all those who are having a rough time in this difficult moment,' he official Andrea Dufourg said this weekend that the extreme weather event 'is a clear example of climate change.''Unfortunately this will continue to take place... we have no other option than to prepare cities, educate citizens, establish effective early warning systems,' said Dufourg, who is director of environmental policy for the city of Ituzaingo outside Buenos Blanca has suffered past weather-related disasters, including a storm in December 2023 that claimed 13 lives. It caused houses to collapse and provoked widespread infrastructure damage.
Al Arabiya
08-03-2025
- Al Arabiya
Ten dead, hundreds evacuated in Argentina floods
At least ten people were killed and more than a thousand evacuated in the Argentine port city of Bahia Blanca on Friday as torrential rains flooded homes and hospitals, destroyed roads and forced officials to cut power. Eight hours of nonstop rain left the city of 350,000 people largely underwater, and forced authorities to evacuate the Jose Penna hospital. Television images showed medical personnel evacuating babies from the hospital's neonatal unit. The army was deployed to assist in rescue efforts. Around 1,321 people were evacuated to safety in the city, which is about 600 kilometers (about 375 miles) south of the capital Buenos Aires, according to Mayor Federico Susbielles' office. The national government authorized emergency aid of 10 billion pesos (about 9.2 million dollars). The city received more than 400 millimeters (15 inches) of rain in just hours -- equivalent to what it normally gets in a year, 'something unprecedented,' according to Javier Alonso, security minister for Buenos Aires province. 'The biggest storm in Bahia Blanca was in 1930, which brought 175 millimeters of rain. This is almost three times bigger,' said Alonso. 'A wall of water' Bahia Blanca's airport was closed until further notice, and officials cut off part of the power supply to reduce the risk of electric shocks. The provincial government said it was sending helicopters, canoes, ambulances and trucks bearing food, water and equipment to the stricken city. The coast guard was assisting in the rescue with inflatable boats. 'It was raining, and suddenly we saw the street was flooded. About a meter-and-a-half of water came into my house,' Flavia Viera Romero, who rescued her children from the deluge, told the LN+ channel. The city remains on alert from the meteorological service for new storms. Flood waters reached the wards of the Jose Penna intensive care hospital, one of the main hospitals in Bahia Blanca, forcing the emergency evacuation of patients and staff. Images on television news and social media showed nurses and doctors with sick babies in their arms fleeing the hospital. 'It was raining and suddenly we saw water in the street. A wall of water about a meter-and-a-half high entered my house,' householder Flavia Viera Romero told the LN+ channel. 'We took refuge in a truck,' she said. The streets of Bahia Blanca slope toward the sea. As tidal waters increased the current of the flood, vehicles and debris from wrecked homes were swept away. Bahia Blanca has a sad history of climate catastrophes: in December 2023, a windstorm left 13 dead, collapsed homes and caused extensive damage to the city.
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-03-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Ten Dead, Hundreds Evacuated in Argentina Floods
At least ten people were killed and more than a thousand evacuated in the Argentine port city of Bahia Blanca on Friday as torrential rains flooded homes and hospitals, destroyed roads and forced officials to cut power. Eight hours of nonstop rain left the city of 350,000 people largely underwater, and forced authorities to evacuate the Jose Penna hospital, AFP reported. Television images showed medical personnel evacuating babies from the hospital's neonatal unit, and the army was deployed to assist in rescue efforts. Some 1,321 people were evacuated to safety in the city, which is about 600 kilometers (about 375 miles) south of the capital Buenos Aires, according to Mayor Federico Susbielles' office. The national government authorized emergency aid of 10 billion pesos (about 9.2 million dollars). The city received more than 400 millimeters (15 inches) of rain in just hours -- equivalent to what it normally gets in a year, "something unprecedented," according to Javier Alonso, security minister for Buenos Aires province. "The biggest storm in Bahia Blanca was in 1930, with 175 millimeters. This is almost three times bigger," said Alonso. 'A wall of water' Bahia Blanca's airport was closed until further notice, and officials cut off part of the power supply to reduce the risk of electric shocks. The provincial government said it was sending helicopters, canoes, ambulances and trucks bearing food, water and equipment to the stricken city. The coast guard was assisting in the rescue with inflatable boats. "It was raining, and suddenly we saw the street was flooded. About a meter-and-a-half of water came into my house," Flavia Viera Romero, who rescued her children from the deluge, told the LN+ channel. The city remains on alert from the meteorological service for new storms. Flood waters reached the wards of the Jose Penna intensive care hospital, one of the main hospitals in Bahia Blanca, forcing the emergency evacuation of patients and staff. Images on television news and social media showed nurses and doctors with sick babies in their arms fleeing the hospital. "It was raining and suddenly we saw water in the street. A wall of water about a meter-and-a-half high entered my house," householder Flavia Viera Romero told the LN+ channel. "We are with my family, we took refuge in the truck," she said. The streets of Bahia Blanca slope towards the sea, and tidal waters increased the current of the flood, sweeping away vehicles and debris from wrecked homes. Bahia Blanca has a sad history of climate catastrophes: in December 2023, a windstorm left 13 dead, collapsed homes and caused extensive damage to the city.
