Heavy rainfall in Bahia Blanca, a port city located southwest of Buenos Aires, has resulted in six fatalities and significant flooding, according to local media and officials on Friday.
The severe weather prompted emergency evacuations of residences and healthcare facilities, with social media depicting mothers with newborns escaping a flooded hospital.
Meteorologists have indicated that the forecast remains bleak, with another storm front anticipated later on Friday.
Authorities reported the death of one woman at a highway intersection, and further casualties have not been ruled out.
Local reports indicate an additional five deaths as torrential rains swept vehicles through the streets, uprooted trees, and left hundreds without electricity.
“The city is largely submerged after seven hours of relentless torrential rain, which undoubtedly signifies a natural disaster,” stated the mayor’s office of Bahia Blanca, which has a population of 300,000 and serves as a significant commercial port.
Situated in Buenos Aires province, the city is approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) from the capital.
In response to the crisis, both the national and provincial governments have initiated a rescue operation to aid those affected, following over 200 millimeters (7.87 inches) of rainfall within a few hours.
Officials have closed the local airport, and several roads leading into the city have sustained considerable damage.