Flooding and rainstorms force suspension of flights in Argentina
Thunderstorms and hail cause havoc across Buenos Aires Province and the City; More than 50 flights suspended amid torrential downpour; Flooding reported in La Plata and other districts.
Heavy rainfall affecting Buenos Aires Province on Thursday caused flooding and damage. Many people had to be evacuated, town halls are strengthening preventive public works on roads given the amber alert for rainfall and thunderstorms.
Over 50 flights were affected this morning at Aeroparque Jorge Newbury and Ezeiza International Airports due to severe thunderstorms which started this morning in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area. Over 40 flights were delayed, eight were cancelled, and a few others were diverted since they could not land.
The SMN Weather Service maintained the alert both in the Metropolitan Area and much of the country due to violent thunderstorms with possible hail, rain and even snow in some provinces. The provinces of Entre Ríos, Corrientes and Santa Fe are also within the scope of the amber alert.
The north-western region of Buenos Aires Province was the most affected by the rainfall and hailstorms.
Authorities called on people to stay alert in the face of potential new rainfall and to pay attention to high tides and the southwesterlies on the River Plate. They have also pointed out that the impact was “heterogeneous” in different districts.
Experts claim that most of the flooding is related to the rise in the level of the River Plate, which hindered the proper drainage of water.
The city of La Plata had major flooding and neighbours being evacuated due to the intense thunderstorms which started on Wednesday night. Authorities are focused on cleaning and unblocking ditches and drainage systems, and support to families affected by the inundation. In the meantime, La Plata Mayor Julio Garro confirmed that precipitation levels over the last few hours “are historic”, since this kind of intense rainfall had not been recorded for 60 years in August.
“We have been working with our teams in affected areas since this morning, and over 100 mm have fallen in some of them in 12 hours, between last night and this morning”, Garro explained. “We are still on amber alert and intermittent showers are still happening, as well as brief thunderstorms of varied severity."
– TIMES/PERFL/NA