The government of the province of Buenos Aires decreed on Monday the "state of emergency throughout the provincial territory and mourning for the next 72 hours", after the strong storm that hit the district in the last few hours.
In the decree published this Tuesday in the Official Gazette, the government of Axel Kicillof also ordered administrative and school holidays for some parties such as Bahía Blanca, Coronel Rosales, Tres Arroyos and Monte Hermoso. Also in the towns of Médanos, Chapelco, Teniente Origone and Juan Couste.
After the devastating storm that left, so far, 16 dead, there are still hundreds of flooded streets throughout the province of Buenos Aires and 150 thousand users without electricity in the AMBA area.
"It was a real climate catastrophe: we came from a time of great drought and now this storm. It's impossible to deny climate change. Luckily, these four years we made many investments linked to civil defense, helicopters to respond to disasters and we are very equipped," said the governor of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, in statements to Radio 10.
The storm left thousands of residents affected throughout the Province and the City of Buenos Aires.EFE/ Juan Ignacio Roncoroni.
Kicillof described that "on Saturday the storm began at 7 p.m. in Bahía Blanca," where 13 people died, with a "very extreme phenomenon that looks like a tornado, with gusts of 150 kilometers per hour, 5,000 trees fell, something tremendous, never seen before."
And he continued: "Then he arrived in La Plata, the city of Buenos Aires, in the center and north of the province. There were a lot of roofs blown off, trees falling, a lot of places without light. It was tremendous."
"We carry heavy machines, trucks, vans. In health, we bring generators, four highly complex ambulances, psychologists to accompany the families. A joint work with the municipality and with the federal forces," he said, adding that badges, food, water, blankets, mattresses, clothing and footwear, and cleaning kits were sent.
Damage to the Hockey field of the Tiro Federal Club due to the storm. Photo: Fernando de la Orden / Special Envoy to Bahía Blanca.
About 150,<> users without electricity
In the AMBA this Monday around 9 in the morning there were about 150 thousand users without electricity supply. Of this total, 77,70 are Edesur users and <>,<> are Edenor users.
As for the areas most affected by the power cuts, thousands of Edesur users in the San Vicente, Almirante Brown, Avellaneda, Cañuelas, Esteban Echeverría, Florencio Varela, Lanús and Presidente Perón districts do not have electricity.
Also without electricity are Edenor's customers in the districts of 3 de Febrero, General Rodríguez, General San Martín, Hurlingham, Ituzaingó, La Matanza, Merlo and San Miguel.