Sharjah24 - AFP: In the port city of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, heavy rains caused roads to be wrecked, houses and hospitals to flood, and officials to turn off the electricity, resulting in hundreds of people being evacuated and ten fatalities.
Severe flooding in Bahia Blanca
Eight hours of nonstop rain inundated the city of Bahia Blanca, home to 350,000 residents, prompting the evacuation of the Jose Penna hospital.
Emergency evacuations
Television footage captured medical personnel evacuating infants from the hospital's neonatal unit, while the army was deployed to assist in rescue operations. Approximately 1,000 people were evacuated to safety in the city, located about 600 kilometers south of Buenos Aires.
Casualties and rainfall records
Municipal officials confirmed six fatalities, with expectations that the toll may rise. The city recorded over 400 millimeters of rain in just a few hours—equivalent to its annual total, described as "unprecedented" by security minister Javier Alonso.
Historical context of the storm
Alonso noted that the previous major storm in Bahia Blanca occurred in 1930, with 175 millimeters of rainfall, making this event nearly three times more severe.
Impact on infrastructure
Bahia Blanca's airport remains closed until further notice, and officials have cut off part of the power supply to mitigate electric shock risks. The provincial government is dispatching helicopters, canoes, ambulances, and trucks with food, water, and equipment to aid the affected city.
Community experiences
Residents shared harrowing accounts of the flooding. Flavia Viera Romero described how a meter-and-a-half of water inundated her home, prompting her to rescue her children.
Ongoing weather alerts
The city remains under alert from the meteorological service for potential new storms, as recovery efforts continue.
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