Heat wave in Argentina: power failure and invasion of brown beetles

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Thousands and thousands of brown beetles spread in the small town of Santa Isabel in Argentina

Photo: Infohuella

It's summer in Argentina - but it's a lot hotter than it should be.

The South American country is currently experiencing an extreme heat wave: the temperatures temporarily reach values ​​of more than 40 degrees Celsius.

This is of course dangerous for people's health and a challenge for the infrastructure: On Tuesday, network operators reported new highs in electricity demand.

Because of the heat, many people had turned on their air conditioners.

But a little later that was no longer possible: the power went out in numerous places in the greater Buenos Aires area.

Hundreds of thousands were cut off from the power supply.

The power failure was triggered by a fire on a power line outside the Argentine capital, as local media reported.

The heat wave could last until Sunday.

Of course, it is not possible to prove that this heat wave is a direct consequence of the climate crisis.

But what can be proven: Such extreme weather events increase significantly due to the warming of the earth.

They get more common and they get more likely.

In Argentina, too, the mean average temperature has been rising continuously for years.

A second look at the province of La Pampa shows what other - seemingly apocalyptic - consequences this may also have.

There, local media reports of an invasion of thousands of brown beetles in the small town of Santa Isabel.

According to this, thousands, maybe even millions of bugs have invaded the city.

They clog drains, fill swimming pools and lay siege to terraces.

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Photo: Infohuella

In the local police station, the mass of insects is said to have lifted the roof cover.

The city's deputy mayor, Cristian Echegaray, reportedly said street lights would be turned off for the next few days to prevent further attracting the bugs.

The beetle larvae are said to develop in the ground in winter.

According to reports, in summer they will be attracted by rising temperatures and light, among other things.

Then they crawl out of the ground to reproduce.

vki / dpa / Reuters