Argentina’s port city of Bahía Blanca has suffered catastrophic flooding after being hit by a year’s worth of rain in just hours, leaving 13 dead and forcing hundreds to evacuate, authorities said on Saturday.
Authorities are searching for two young girls, aged four and one, who are feared to have been carried away by the floodwaters during Friday’s severe weather event, news agency AFP reported.
The devastating storm submerged hospital facilities, isolated neighbourhoods and caused widespread power outages. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich stated that Bahia Blanca was “destroyed.”
The death toll increased from 10 on Friday to 13 on Saturday, with officials in the city of 350,000 residents, situated 600 kilometres southwest of Buenos Aires, warning of possible additional casualties.
Minister Bullrich told Radio Mitre about concerns regarding the missing children. Five victims perished on flooded streets, likely trapped in their vehicles by rapidly rising waters.
The Jose Penna hospital required evacuation, with medical personnel, assisted by military forces, carrying infants to safety, as documented in news footage and social media videos.
The Friday morning deluge delivered over 400 millimetres of precipitation within eight hours, equivalent to Bahia Blanca’s typical annual rainfall, according to provincial security minister Javier Alonso, who called the situation “unprecedented.”
Reports emerged of flooded businesses and overnight looting. The government has allocated 10 billion pesos for emergency reconstruction efforts. The surrounding coastal region experienced widespread power interruptions.
City officials temporarily suspended electricity supply in Bahia Blanca due to extensively flooded streets. The mayor’s office reported that the number of evacuees had decreased to 850 on Saturday, down from a peak of 1,321.
Bahia Blanca has faced severe weather disasters before, including a devastating storm in December 2023 that claimed 13 lives, caused homes to collapse, and inflicted widespread infrastructure damage.
