Argentina Declares Three Days of Mourning As Flood Death Toll Rises to 16
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Argentina declared three days of national mourning after flash floods killed at least 16 people in Bahia Blanca, where a year's worth of rain fell in hours, submerging neighborhoods.
Two young girls, aged one and five, were swept away in the disaster.
Authorities raised the death toll late Sunday, warning that more people remained missing following the devastating floods.
The storm struck on Friday, bringing torrential rains that inundated entire neighborhoods in Bahia Blanca, a key port city in southern Buenos Aires province.
The nation has been particularly shaken by the disappearance of the two young sisters.
Provincial Security Minister Javier Alonso said on Sunday that the girls and their mother had climbed onto the roof of a van to escape the rising waters when a sudden surge carried them away. The mother was rescued, but her daughters remained missing.
Divers continued search operations in the area, where floodwaters remained over a meter deep, Alonso told Radio Mitre.
Bahia Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles estimated the flood damage at $400 million in infrastructure losses.
"There are 16 confirmed deaths, but there are likely to be more," he said in a post on X, as rescue teams worked to locate those still unaccounted for.
The storm left much of the surrounding coastal region without power. At one point, officials in Bahia Blanca shut off electricity due to the high water levels in the streets.
President Javier Milei's office announced that the country would observe three days of mourning for the victims.
"All areas of the national government will remain dedicated... to assisting the victims in this moment of sorrow for all Argentines," the presidency said in a statement.
The government approved emergency reconstruction aid totaling 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million at the official exchange rate).
Argentine football star Lionel Messi expressed his condolences on Instagram.
"Much strength to all those who are having a rough time in this difficult moment," he wrote.
Environment official Andrea Dufourg linked the disaster to climate change.
"This is a clear example of climate change," said Dufourg, who heads environmental policy in Ituzaingo, near Buenos Aires.
"Unfortunately, this will continue to happen... We have no choice but to prepare cities, educate citizens, and establish effective early warning systems."
Bahia Blanca has experienced past weather-related disasters, including a December 2023 storm that killed 13 people, caused homes to collapse, and inflicted severe infrastructure damage.
