The town of Santa Fe in Argentina was hit with a fierce storm on May 18th leaving at least 13 people dead. The storm reportedly brought winds of up to 80 mph which caused widespread damage and affected many areas in the province.
The storm is said to have caused major flooding in parts of the province which has caused many people to evacuate their homes in fear of their safety. In particular, the Institute of Agronomic and Livestock Investigations of Argentina (INTA) reported the worst flooding in the area since the 1930s. The floods also caused extensive damage to the agricultural sector, resulting in a multitude of losses in production.
Over 400 personnel from the Argentine Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Coastguard, Air Force, and military fire brigades were deployed to help in the response efforts. Additionally, the National Civil Defense organization provided relief materials to affected communities.
The governor of Santa Fe province, Omar Perotti, released a statement saying that his government is doing everything it can to provide support for those affected. He also thanked the emergency personnel involved in helping the affected towns during the emergency.
The extreme weather conditions seen in Argentina have been linked to global warming and climate change. These kinds of disasters are becoming more frequent, making it more difficult to protect citizens from their effects. As such, it is more important than ever to take serious steps to reduce emissions and combat climate change.