ARGENTINA-FLOODS/UPDATE Desperate residents await help after devastating rains flood Buenos Aires province

Record ID: 144282

  • Title: ARGENTINA-FLOODS/UPDATE Desperate residents await help after devastating rains flood Buenos Aires province
  • Date: 13th August 2015
  • Summary: LUJAN, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (AUGUST 12, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LUJAN BASILICA WITH SURROUNDING AREA FLOODED VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS IN CANOE IN FLOODED STREET LOCAL WOMAN LOOKING AT FLOODING CLOSE TO HOME FIREFIGHTERS IN ON BOAT IN STREET VARIOUS OF LOCAL RESIDENT, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES, WALKING AROUND FLOODED AREA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FLOOD VICTIM, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES, SAYING: "Nobody came to help us, to ask if we need anything. If I need something, now I have to go and hit them (authorities) after turning a deaf ear. This is what makes me angry. I posted (on social media) that it was embarrassing that politicians were going through all the streets (before the election) and now they don't need us who comes now, take off your shoes just like me in flip flops. Yesterday was worse, the water was up to my (waist). Take off your shoes and get wet like us. Now they don't need votes? Stop stealing just a little bit and fix this situation in the river." VARIOUS OF MEN WALKING IN FLOODED STREET VARIOUS OF FLOODED STREET BY THE SWOLLEN RIVER LUJAN WOMAN WALKING THROUGH LOCAL RESIDENT CROSSING FLOODED STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FLOOD VICTIM, ARIANA CAPULLA, SAYING: "They (authorities) spend more money on giving water drums, bleach, clothes and mattresses than if they had done a good job (on the River Lujan hydraulics works). If they did a good job there would be no need to bring mattresses every year. It doesn't fix anything, it's an aspirin for those in the middle of this. There are people who are worse off, have a look at those there who have two metres (6.5 foot) of water inside their homes, nothing is left." BRIDGE ABOVE SWOLLEN RIVER LUJAN VARIOUS OF FLOODING
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAD59OVECU66CKEK9FPWAHYUV9M
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents in Buenos Aires Province sloshed through flooded streets while others manoeuvred via canoe after near a week's worth of heavy rain caused the nearby Lujan to overflow, flooding homes and leaving swathes of the area submerged.
    Tens of thousands of people living in the province - Argentina's most populous- had to evacuate their houses in search of dry ground.
    The city of Lujan, famous for its basilica, has been one of the areas worst hit. According to local media, the Lujan River has gone up by more than four metres (13 feet) since the heavy rains.
    Maria de los Angeles' home was flooded by the heavy rains. She told Reuters that authorities who once roamed streets to drum up support for recent elections are now nowhere to be seen.
    "Nobody came to help us, to ask if we need anything. If I need something, now I have to go and hit them (authorities) after turning a deaf ear. This is what makes me angry. I posted (on social media) that it was embarrassing that politicians were going through all the streets (before the election) and now they don't need us who comes now, take off your shoes just like me in flip flops. Yesterday was worse, the water was up to my (waist). Take off your shoes and get wet like us. Now they don't need votes? Stop stealing just a little bit and fix this situation in the river," she said.
    A national primary for October presidential elections were held last weekend.
    Buenos Aires Province Governor, Daniel Scioli, has been criticised for taking a trip to Italy as large areas of his province grappled with devastating floods. He is currently running for President and will stand in October representing the ruling centre-left Victory Front ticket.
    Residents accuse authorities of not doing enough to prevent the Lujan river from flooding, instead seeking short-term solutions.
    "They (authorities) spend more money on giving water drums, bleach, clothes and mattresses than if they had done a good job (on the River Lujan hydraulics works). If they did a good job there would be no need to bring mattresses every year. It doesn't fix anything, it's an aspirin for those in the middle of this. There are people who are worse off, have a look at those there who have two metres (6.5 foot) of water inside their homes, nothing is left," said flood victim, Ariana Capulla.
    According to local media, pumps have been brought into the area to stop rising flood waters from flooding the Lujan Basilica.
    Meteorologists are predicting the wet weather will continue in the area until next week.
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