10 dead, over 1,300 evacuated in Argentine floods

No less than ten people were killed and more than a thousand evacuated in Bahia Blanca in Argentina while the torrential rains flooded houses and hospitals on Friday 7 March 2025.

Eight hours of rainy rain left the city of 350,000 people largely underwater and forced the authorities to evacuate the Jose Penna hospital.

The television images showed the medical personnel who evacuate children from the hospital’s neonatal unit and the army was deployed to help rescue efforts.

1,321 people were evacuated in the city, which is located about 600 kilometers (about 375 miles) south of the capital Buenos Aires, according to the mayor of the mayor Federico Susbielles.

The National Government authorized the emergency aid of 10 billion pesos (about 9.2 million dollars).

The city has received more than 400 millimeters (15 inches) of rain in a few hours – equivalent to what normally gets in a year, “something unprecedented”, according to Javier Alonso, security minister of the province of Buenos Aires.

“Bahia Blanca’s largest storm was in 1930, with 175mm. This is almost three times bigger, “said Alonso.

Bahia Blanca airport was closed up to further notice and officials cut part of the power supply to reduce the risk of electric shock.

The provincial government said that he was sending helicopters, canoes, ambulances and trucks that bring food, water and equipment to the affected city.

The coast guard was helping to the rescue with inflatable boats, he reported AFP.

“It rained and suddenly we saw that the road was flooded. About a meter and a half of water arrived in my house, “said Flavia Viera Romero, who saved her children from the flood.

The city remains alert by the meteorological service for new storms.

The streets of Bahia Blanca tilt towards the sea and the tide waters increased the current of the flood, sweeping via vehicles and debris from destroyed houses.

Bahia Blanca has a sad story of climatic catastrophy. In December 2023, a storm of wind left 13 deaths, collapsed houses and caused ample damage to the city.