Rescuers are searching for two young sisters missing from floods in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, which have resulted in 16 deaths and extensive damage. The flooding, exacerbated by extreme weather, has prompted a national mourning period and mobilized significant resources for cleanup and recovery. Leaders and sports figures are providing support amidst this crisis.
On Monday, rescuers in Argentina initiated searches for two young sisters, aged one and five, who were swept away by severe flash floods that have tragically claimed 16 lives in Bahia Blanca over the weekend. The city experienced an extraordinary downpour, with more than a year’s worth of rain falling within a few hours, leading to extensive flooding and the inundation of various neighborhoods.
The daughters were in a vehicle with their parents when rising waters trapped them. A delivery van driver rescued the family, but shortly after, his vehicle began to fill with water, prompting them to climb on top for safety. Unfortunately, a surge of floodwaters swept away both the driver and the young girls, although their mother and father were among the survivors.
In response to this devastating event, the government declared three days of national mourning, as many residents remain in temporary shelters following the catastrophic floods. Approximately 100 individuals are unaccounted for, with authorities attributing this lack of communication largely to damage inflicted on cell phone towers and power outages across the city.
Bahia Blanca’s mayor, Federico Susbielles, reported that efforts are underway to construct embankments and deploy pumps to manage water levels. By Monday, electric power had been restored to around 70 percent of the city’s population, as the rainfall’s aftermath revealed desolate landscapes filled with debris and mud-covered streets.
As Bahia Blanca copes with this disaster, approximately 200 firefighters and 800 police officers have been mobilized for cleanup operations and to maintain order amidst concerns of looting. The storm’s total damage was estimated at $400 million, severely impacting local schools and infrastructure. In response, the central government has allocated emergency reconstruction assistance amounting to 10 billion pesos (approximately $9.2 million).
The recent floods in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, have resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, prompting national mourning and recovery efforts. With significant infrastructure damage and a deep impact on the community’s moral and material wellbeing, national figures, including the Pope and Lionel Messi, have offered support. This catastrophic event underscores the need for effective disaster preparedness and a response to the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.
Original Source: www.sanfordherald.com
