Bahia Blanca Storm Devastation: Ten Lives Lost and City Rebuilding Efforts Begin
A storm in Bahia Blanca has killed at least ten people and forced over 1,000 evacuations. Efforts to rebuild the affected city are underway, with emergency aid provided by the government. The significant rainfall has triggered widespread flooding and power outages throughout the region.
Following devastating storms, a senior official from Buenos Aires province, Carlos Bianco, announced, “We have to rebuild a city” after ten fatalities were reported in Bahia Blanca, located to the south of the capital. The torrential rains have forced over 1,000 residents to evacuate their homes, with local media noting that two young sisters, aged four and one, are still unaccounted for.
Carlos Bianco further stated, “The national and provincial governments are collaborating to deal with the storm,” underscoring the coordinated efforts to address the crisis. According to the mayor’s office, the death toll may continue to rise as they reported at least five of the fatalities were caused by submerged roadways. As of early Saturday, 1,128 individuals were evacuated as emergency response escalated.
The severe downpour, described as “unprecedented,” began on Friday morning and resulted in over 15 inches (400 millimeters) of rainfall within an eight-hour period, as stated by Javier Alonso, security minister of the province. The aftermath includes images of flooded businesses, and reports indicate instances of overnight looting.
Authorities have mobilized emergency reconstruction resources, allocating 10 billion pesos (approximately $9.2 million). The storm caused extensive power outages in the coastal region, though some restoration efforts had succeeded in reconnecting 30,000 users by Saturday morning. Bahia Blanca has a history of weather-related tragedies, with a prior storm in December 2023 resulting in 13 deaths.
In nearby Mar del Plata, local authorities suspended evening activities and advised residents to stay indoors due to the dangerous weather. While the city of Buenos Aires experienced the effects of the storm, it reported no significant damage.
In summary, Bahia Blanca has experienced a catastrophic storm resulting in significant loss of life and extensive damage. With at least ten confirmed deaths and over a thousand evacuations, the coordinated response by national and provincial governments aims to aid recovery and reconstruction efforts. The unprecedented rainfall has highlighted the vulnerabilities of the region and prompted calls for rapid restorative measures to support affected individuals and families.
Original Source: www.communitynewspapergroup.com