The number of victims of the tragic flood in the Argentine city of Bahia Blanca increased to 16. The disaster was caused by storms, which on Friday brought extreme rainfall over the region. In connection with the cataclysm, the Argentine government introduced a three -day national mourning.
On Sunday afternoon, the Argentine Minister of Security Javier Alonzo announced finding 16 victims of the flood in Bahia Blanca. It is the driver of a private transport company, who was last seen as he tried to save two girls. Their fate still remains unknown, and the police conduct a search action.
According to local media as a result of a flood, about 40 percent of the city is free of electricity. Due to the number of victims and the scale of the disaster, the Argentine government introduced a three -day national mourning.
“I thought I would die this morning”
According to the mayor Bahia Blanca, floods caused by flood can be hundreds of millions of dollars. Until now, the Argentine government has transferred financial assistance in the amount of less than $ 10 million. The army and special services were sent to the disaster to help the victims. Some places will be available to rescuers only after drying, which may take several days. The scale of the cataclysm is shown by the reports of the survivors.
– I said I would die this morning, it was terrible. In a few seconds our house was flooded. My husband went for a ladder (…) The water was everywhere – said one of the inhabitants of Bahia Blanca.
“Looking at it brings me suffering and powerlessness, but you can't fight nature,” added the son of one of the victims.
On Friday, the city of Bahia Blanca, located on the Atlantic coast, with about 330,000 inhabitants was flooded. Floods were caused by violent stormsaccompanied by heavy rainfall. Within eight hours, 400 liters of water per square meter fell there. Public transport was paralyzed and the airport is closed. Over a thousand people were evacuated.
La Nacional, Reuters, Enex
Source of the main photo: Enex