El reciente temporal que afectó a las provincias de Salta y Jujuy dejó un saldo complejo: ríos desbordados, rescates de turistas, familias anegadas y rutas cortadas.
The intensity of the rains caused historic rainfall records and a rapid rise in water levels that put Civil Defense, firefighters, and provincial authorities on alert.
Vaqueros and La Caldera: assisted families
In Vaqueros, a town near Salta capital, almost 30 families were assisted after water entered their homes. The Vaqueros River reached a historic level, almost reaching the floor of the old metal bridge. Residents and motorists crossed the structure with extreme caution, while municipal personnel managed to save machinery and light poles from the current.
In La Caldera, another critical point in the Lerma Valley, 13 people were rescued near a campsite. Firefighters and police used zip lines to cross the raging river current.
Campo Quijano and the rescue of tourists
In Campo Quijano, a group of tourists who were trekking were trapped by the rise of the Blanco River, a tributary of the Toro River.
They were rescued by emergency teams in an operation that reflected the magnitude of the storm in mountain areas.
Social assistance and surveys
The Social Development area of Salta coordinated immediate assistance to affected families, providing food and mattresses.
- In Vaqueros, 29 families were assisted.
- In Tartagal, 7 families received help.
- In General Mosconi, 10 families were affected by a landslide in Campamento Vespucio.
- In Río Piedras, families with flooded homes were supported.
- In Joaquín V. González, 23 people were evacuated.
- In General Güemes, 3 families were assisted.
- In Urundel and Pichanal, support was provided to affected family units.
- In Aguaray, 10 families were assisted due to the rise of a stream.
Rainfall records
The INTA Rainfall Network recorded exceptional values:
- San Lorenzo: 106 mm.
- Wierna Station (between Los Yacones and La Caldera): 112 mm.
- Campo Quijano: 75 mm.
- El Encón: 60 mm.
- Santa Apolonia (Cerrillos): 60 mm.
- Las Ceibas (Rosario de Lerma): 78 mm.
- El Naranjo (Chicoana): 80 mm.
In contrast, in Vaqueros and Salta capital, the marks were around 29 mm, showing the uneven distribution of rainfall in the Lerma Valley.
Road closures and water alert
The route 33 to Cachi remained closed between kilometers 45 and 55 due to the rise of streams. The provincial route 19, access to Los Toldos, was also closed due to the rise of the Bermejo River.
The Pilcomayo Alert System reported a very rapid rise in Aguas Blancas:
- The Bermejo River rose from 1.97 m on January 18 to 5.43 m on the 19th.
- In Pozo Sarmiento, the flow reached 6.25 m.
These levels are the highest of the hydrological cycle and represent high risk for the populations of San Martín and Rivadavia, where an alert was issued for possible significant overflows during the week.
The storm in Salta and Jujuy left a panorama of climatic emergency: tourist rescues, evacuated families, road closures, and rivers at critical levels.
The rapid response of Civil Defense, firefighters, and social organizations prevented greater consequences, but the event exposes the region’s vulnerability to extreme phenomena and the need to strengthen alert and prevention systems.
