Buenos Aires has been grappling with severe storms and heavy rainfall for approximately 36 hours, leading to at least one fatality, inundating several neighborhoods, and causing the cancellation or delay of dozens of flights, particularly international ones.
The National Meteorological Service reported that over 125mm of rain drenched the capital and its surrounding areas from Monday night into Tuesday, marking a record one-day total for March in three decades. This amount significantly exceeds the historical monthly average for March.
Civil Defense in Buenos Aires confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) the death of a man on Tuesday morning at a Lanus intersection, one of the many areas partially submerged in Greater Buenos Aires.
An orange alert was issued for the capital and its vicinity since Sunday. Early Tuesday, a series of powerful storms led to a red emergency alert at Buenos Aires’ two airports, resulting in the cancellation of 30 flights and delays to many others, according to local media reports.
In several Buenos Aires neighborhoods, streets were closed due to fallen trees. Over 500 personnel were deployed in the morning to clear waterlogged pathways caused by the overwhelmed drainage system.
Additionally, around 100,000 homes experienced power outages on Tuesday, as reported by the capital’s electricity providers.
This intense weather event underscores the challenges faced by Buenos Aires as it navigates the impacts of severe weather, emphasizing the need for robust emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
