On Friday, March 7, the coastal city of Bahia Blanca in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was hit by a severe rainstorm. The city was inundated with water, causing disruptions in transportation and power outages for hundreds of residents. The torrential rains have resulted in at least 6 deaths.
According to local reports, around 4 a.m. local time on Friday, Bahia Blanca, located about 600 kilometers from the capital Buenos Aires, experienced a sudden downpour. Within a few hours, the accumulated rainfall exceeded 200 millimeters, with some areas receiving over 250 millimeters. The average annual rainfall in the region is usually about 600 to 650 millimeters.
The heavy rainfall led to multiple rivers overflowing in the city area, causing a local hospital to be flooded. Hundreds of residents had to be evacuated urgently, and the unfortunate event has already claimed the lives of 6 people. Bahia Blanca has declared a state of emergency, with the local government closing all schools in the city and suspending public transportation. The local airport has also been shut down, allowing only rescue aircraft to operate. Residents have been advised to stay indoors until further notice.
The mayor of the city, Federico Susbielles, expressed on social media that with the ongoing rescue efforts, there is a possibility of more casualties.
Argentina’s Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullrich, has embarked on a journey to Bahia Blanca to oversee and coordinate the relief efforts.
The Argentine Meteorological Service has issued an orange alert for the region, warning of more heavy rain expected to bring 50 to 100 millimeters of precipitation to the port city before the storm weakens, accompanied by winds reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour.