Central regions of Argentina have been hit by powerful downpours that began on May 15, affecting an area home to over 6 million people. Prolonged rainfall triggered large-scale flooding, unprecedented in its scope, and forced around 7,000 residents to evacuate their homes in several districts of Buenos Aires Province.
The municipalities of Zárate, Campana, Salto, and Rojas were hit the hardest. In some homes in Zárate, water levels reached up to 6.5 feet. People lost their belongings and pets.
In Rojas, three people went missing after being swept away by a stream’s current while trying to cross. A 71-year-old man was confirmed dead; his body was found in a car that floodwaters had carried into a field near the town of Santa Coloma.
The flooding led to school closures in dozens of municipalities, and transportation was disrupted both in cities and on highways. The agricultural sector sustained major losses — corn and soybean fields were severely damaged. In Salto and Rojas, industrial and commercial activity came to a complete standstill. Small and medium-sized businesses reported significant damage to warehouses, inventories, and equipment.
In just two days, up to 16 inches of rain fell in the northwestern part of the province. Absolute rainfall records were recorded in several cities, with the highest in San Antonio de Areco — 17 inches.
In some areas, rainfall exceeded the average monthly norm for May by up to four times.
Experts noted that this flood was unlike typical storms in the region: the storm front was wider, and the rainfall lasted significantly longer.
Natural disasters are becoming increasingly destructive, and the flooding in Argentina is just one part of a much broader global pattern. While some regions are submerged, others are experiencing a dangerous surge in seismic activity that could lead to catastrophic consequences for all of humanity. What’s behind the growing number of earthquakes? Why are scientists sounding the alarm? And how serious is the threat posed by the massive magmatic plume beneath Siberia?
Find out more in the video: "Catastrophic Earthquakes Are Inevitable. Scientists’ Warning."