‘Destruction’ in Argentina port city from massive rainstorm, 13 people dead

BUENOS AIRES — The port city of Bahia Blanca in Argentina has been “destroyed” after a year’s worth of rain fell in just a few hours, leaving 13 dead and hundreds more homeless, officials said Saturday.

Two young girls — reported by local media to be aged four and one — were unaccounted-for after potentially being carried away by floodwaters from the storm on Friday.

The torrent submerged hospital rooms, rendered neighborhoods islands and knocked out power to large parts of the city. National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the city of Bahia Blanca was “destroyed.”

The death toll climbed to 13 on Saturday, from 10 on Friday, the authorities said.

The mayor’s office said there may be more casualties in this city of 350,000 residents, about 600 kilometres southwest of the capital Buenos Aires.

The missing girls “may have been swept away by the water,” Bullrich told Radio Mitre.

At least five of the victims were killed on inundated roadways, and may have died after being trapped in their vehicles by swiftly rising water.

The storm caused the evacuation of Jose Penna hospital, and news footage and video shared on social media showed nurses and other medical workers carrying babies to safety. The army later came to their aid.

The rain, which started falling early Friday morning, delivered over 400 millimeters (16 inches) of precipitation in eight hours in the area, “practically what Bahia Blanca receives in a whole year,” provincial security minister Javier Alonso said.

“It’s unprecedented,” he said.

Scenes of desolation

Local media published pictures of flooded shops and also reported looting overnight.

The government has approved around 10 billion pesos ($9.20 million at the official exchange rate) in emergency reconstruction aid.

Much of the surrounding coastal area had its power knocked out by the storm. At one point, city officials in Bahia Blanco cut electricity in the area because of the enormous volume of water in the streets.

As of Saturday there were 850 evacuees, down from an early peak of 1,321, the mayor’s office said.

Bahia Blanca has experienced weather-related tragedies before, such as a storm in December 2023 that killed 13 people. It caused buildings to collapse and triggered widespread infrastructure damage.

Heavy downpours also hit the resort town of Mar del Plata on Friday night, leading officials to suspend evening activities and ask people to stay inside.

The storm also struck Buenos Aires, but caused no major damage.