Buenos Aires Grapples with Severe Flooding After Torrential Rains Force Thousands to Evacuate

Widespread Flooding Grips Buenos Aires Region

Buenos Aires, Argentina – The metropolitan area of Buenos Aires and surrounding provinces experienced severe flooding in mid-May 2025, following several days of relentless torrential rainfall. The intense downpour, which began on Friday, May 16, 2025, and continued through Saturday, May 17, caused significant disruptions, submerged vast areas, and necessitated large-scale evacuations.

In some parts of Buenos Aires Province, rainfall totals exceeded 400 millimeters (approximately 15 inches) over a 72-hour period, a stark contrast to the average monthly precipitation of about 1.7 inches. Buenos Aires City itself recorded nearly 160 millimeters of rain in just 35 hours, almost double its typical May average. Civil Defense Director Fabián García noted that the rainfall 'exceeded all forecasts, not only in quantity, but also in time.'

Evacuations and Casualties Reported

The severe weather prompted urgent responses from authorities, with more than 7,500 people evacuated across Buenos Aires Province. Over 2,000 individuals were ordered to leave rural areas north of the capital, while an additional 4,400 people were rescued or voluntarily relocated from their homes. Emergency shelters were established to house those displaced by the floods.

Tragically, the event has resulted in casualties. Reports indicate that at least one person has died, and two others remain missing in several municipalities of Buenos Aires. Firefighters and emergency services conducted numerous interventions, particularly in hard-hit areas such as Lanús, Ezeiza, and La Matanza.

Infrastructure Paralysis and Official Response

The deluge brought the region's infrastructure to a standstill. Widespread flooding led to:

• Major road closures, including sections of Ruta Nacional 9, a critical highway connecting the capital to the Bolivian border.
• Stalled traffic and significant disruptions to public transport.
• A bus carrying 44 passengers was stranded overnight for over 10 hours on a flooded roadway.
• Businesses remained shuttered in many affected areas.

National and provincial government officials launched extensive search-and-rescue operations. Federal troops were deployed to areas like Zárate to assist residents. Provincial Security Minister Javier Alonso and National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich were involved in overseeing the emergency response. Governor Axel Kicillof attributed the intensity of the weather event to 'climate change,' describing it as 'absolutely extraordinary.' Weather alerts, including an orange alert for northern Buenos Aires Province and a yellow alert for the capital, were issued, urging residents to avoid travel.

Historical Context of Severe Weather

This recent flooding event is not an isolated incident for Argentina. Authorities have drawn comparisons to previous severe storms, including a March 2024 event in Buenos Aires that resulted in a fatality due to electrocution, and a tragic flooding incident on March 7 in Bahía Blanca, which claimed 18 lives and caused an estimated US$400 million in material damage.