Rescue operations continued in Argentina on Monday as authorities searched for two sisters, aged one and five, who were swept away by the catastrophic flash floods that struck Bahia Blanca over the weekend. The disaster, which has claimed at least 16 lives, left entire neighborhoods submerged after more than a year’s worth of rain fell within hours on Friday.
The missing children were traveling with their parents when their vehicle became stranded in the rapidly rising floodwaters. A delivery van driver initially rescued the family, bringing them aboard his vehicle, but the surge of water overwhelmed them. The mother survived, as did the father, but the driver was later found dead, and the two young girls remain missing.
The government has declared three days of national mourning in response to what has been described as Bahia Blanca’s worst disaster in decades. Around 500 people are still in temporary shelters, while 100 remain unaccounted for, though officials believe most are simply out of contact due to power outages and damaged communication infrastructure.
City authorities, led by Mayor Federico Susbielles, have deployed emergency crews to construct embankments and operate pumps in an effort to lower water levels. Electricity has been restored to about 70 percent of the city, which has a population of 350,000.
As the floodwaters recede, devastating scenes have emerged. Streets are covered in mud, debris litters neighborhoods, and overturned vehicles remain piled up. Schools, banks, and public transport services remain non-operational, while many businesses can only accept cash payments due to damaged electronic systems.
Emergency responders, including 200 firefighters and nearly 800 police officers, are working on cleanup and security to prevent looting. Officials estimate that infrastructure damage exceeds $400 million, with 23 schools badly impacted. The central government has allocated 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million) for emergency reconstruction efforts.
Support has poured in from across the country, with soccer clubs launching donation drives. Argentine football legend Lionel Messi shared a message of solidarity, while Pope Francis, currently hospitalized with pneumonia, expressed his condolences.
Experts have linked the extreme flooding to climate change, warning that such events will become more frequent. Officials stress the need for improved urban planning, citizen education, and early warning systems to mitigate future disasters.
