ARGENTINA: President Cristina Fernandez visits La Plata after floods devastate the city leaving at least 46 people dead

Record ID: 447347

  • Title: ARGENTINA: President Cristina Fernandez visits La Plata after floods devastate the city leaving at least 46 people dead
  • Date: 3rd April 2013
  • Summary: LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (APRIL 3, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS PUSHING CAR OUT OF WATER AND PEOPLE IN FLOODED STREET PEOPLE WADING THROUGH WATER IN STREET AND PULLING A CANOE
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA18H0AA28NUBKPNLPOR5HTMXM1
  • Story Text: As the death toll from an intense rainstorm climbed to 46 in La Plata, Argentina on Wednesday (April 3) President Cristina Fernandez visited the flood-ravaged city.
    Emergency crews including firefighters, police and military personnel worked to rescue those who had been trapped by the waters.
    Many people were forced to spend the night on roof tops to escape the rising water levels.
    Fernandez, who grew up near La Plata, said that assistance would be provided for those affected by the devastating floods.
    "In a few minutes the governor is going to announce, together with the mayor, the places where they are going to distribute water, mattresses and other kinds of assistance that the government is establishing," said Fernandez.
    Local media said between 300 and 400 millimetres (12 to 16 inches) of rain fell in just two hours, flooding low-lying neighbourhoods in the city and surrounding areas.
    People struggled to place calls as cell phone services in the region were disrupted by the storm.
    Business owners rushed to bail out water from flooded stores and salvage what was left of the merchandise.
    The Argentine Red Cross set up an emergency stand in the street to provide assistance to those in need, while the Coast Guard brought in boats to rescue people who were left stranded by the water.
    Governor Scioli said the storm had claimed the lives of 46 people and that they were in the process of identifying the bodies.
    "With great sadness I have to announce that at this moment there are 46 fatalities. They will be identified by an operation that the Ministry of Justice and Security - of which the Emergency and Crisis Committee is a part - is carrying out. They are working with the Ministry of the Interior for the rapid identification of the victims which have been taken to the morgue," said Scioli.
    Some people drowned after being trapped in their cars or while walking along city streets when the water rose suddenly on Tuesday night, while others were electrocuted.
    Clean up efforts continued in the city as residents braced themselves for the possibility of more rain.
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