Paola Chorna in Buenos Aires
It has been described as a “national catastrophe” by Argentine President, Eduardo Duhalde. Eight people have died and at least 50,000 have been left homeless in the north-eastern province of Sante Fé, which has been swept by flash floods caused by heavy storms early this week.
A state of emergency has been declared in 35 districts of Santa Fé province, a third of which is submerged by water. The province is home to three million people.
The secretary general of the International Federation, Didier Cherpitel, is visiting the disaster-stricken country and has offered Federation support to the Argentine Red Cross, which is in the front-line of the response to the disaster. The Federation has immediately released 50,000 Swiss francs (US$ 37,000) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund.
“This is a terrible calamity on top of all the socio-economic difficulties which the country has been experiencing lately,” Cherpitel said. “Hopefully, it will focus the international community’s attention on the needs of vulnerable people in Argentina.”
The Argentine Red Cross mobilised six teams comprising personnel trained in life-saving and first-aid. They have managed to rescue more then 1,000 people, many of whom were stranded on the roofs of houses.
Many of those rescued were suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and exhaustion. They are now being looked after in 15 evacuation centres in Santa Fe.
The Argentine Red Cross, which is coordinating its rescue efforts with the Civil Defence and local authorities, has also sent two loads of relief to Santa Fé including over ten tonnes of food, clothing and first aid kits.
The ARC relief effort is continuing despite a lack of electricity and the fact that its local branch was forced to evacuate its premises as a result of the rising flood waters.
The Salado river is rising at a rate of two centimetres an hour, and situation that is expected to continue. Flood waters are expected to spill over to other provinces, in particular Entre Rios.
There are fears that the situation could worsen and the numbers of people who need to be evacuated could rise to 80,000. Around 150,000 inhabitants of towns close to the river are in danger.
Many people are reportedly reluctant to leave their homes because of fears of looting and this is making the task of rescue workers more difficult. The worst-hit areas are Santa Fé city and the departments of Las Colonias, San Cristobal, San Justo and San Javier where most of the inhabitants have been evacuated already.
Related links:
Santa Fé floods: information bulletin
Argentine Red Cross
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