Torrential rains cause death and destruction in Bahia Blanca

Torrential rainfall that devastated the Argentine port city of Bahia Blanca, located 600 km southwest of Buenos Aires, has claimed at least 13 lives, according to authorities. The downpour has forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.

Patricia Bullrich, the National Security Minister, described Bahia Blanca as "a destroyed city." She mentioned that two young girls, still missing, might have been "swept away by the waters." The local media reported that the two girls, aged one and four, are sisters.

So far, 11 of the 13 victims have been identified, but the local authorities of this city, home to 350,000 people, warn that the death toll could rise. Entire neighborhoods remain without power, and one road has been destroyed.

The city received an unprecedented 400 millimeters of rain in just eight hours on Friday—equivalent to the amount of rain that typically falls over an entire year. Javier Alonso, the Security Minister for Buenos Aires Province, called it a "record-breaking" event. He compared it to the largest storm in Bahia Blanca's history, which occurred in 1930 and produced 175 millimeters of rain. This recent storm was nearly three times more intense.

As of Saturday afternoon, about 850 people were still being evacuated. The government has allocated emergency aid worth 10 billion pesos (around 8.6 million euros).

Environmental management expert Andrea Dufourg stated that the disaster serves as a clear example of climate change, emphasizing how extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, with situations like heavy rainfall and floods impacting certain regions.

Dufourg further stressed the need to prepare cities, educate citizens, establish effective early warning systems, and take proactive actions.

In Bahia Blanca, the destruction is widespread, with eyewitness accounts revealing severe flooding. Eduardo Seminara, a doctor, described the flooding, saying, "We were hit with one and a half meters of water. Unfortunately, there is nothing left." Media footage also showed nurses and medical staff evacuating babies from the neonatal unit of José Penna Hospital with help from the military.

Looting was also reported during the night, and images showed vandalized stores. Bahia Blanca's airport remains closed, and authorities have cut power in some areas to reduce the risk of electrocution.

By Saturday afternoon, around 120,000 customers were still without electricity. One resident, Flavia Viera Romero, recounted her escape, saying, "We put the dogs on the roof, put the children in the truck, and stayed there."

The Buenos Aires province, which oversees Bahia Blanca, dispatched canoes, ambulances, helicopters, food trucks, potable water, and other equipment to the devastated city.

This is the second major storm to hit Bahia Blanca in recent months. In late 2023, a violent storm with heavy rainfall and winds reaching 150 km/h caused the collapse of a sports club roof, resulting in 13 fatalities.

The national weather service has issued an orange alert for the country's northwest, where Tucumán Province has also been impacted by floods.