In 2012, the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) anticipated floods when they carried out a study on urban hydrography, concluding that water accumulates rapidly in the city during intense rainfall.
Early last Friday morning, Bahía Blanca</strong was hit by a severe storm that caused the fall of nearly 400 millimeters of water in a few hours, resulting in massive destruction and the tragic loss of 16 lives, in addition to over 900 evacuees. Surprisingly, everything that happened had already been anticipated in a study.
The study that anticipated floods with a very high likelihood in Bahía Blanca
According to the study, it anticipated floods in Bahía Blanca as a zone where this situation is aggravated, as the runoff generated in high areas erodes unpaved streets and carries sediments to lower areas, blocking drainage systems.
CONICET clarified at the time that unplanned urban expansion generates impermeable areas, reducing water absorption spaces and increasing its volume.
The study originated in relation to Bahía Blanca’s location in the lower basin of the Maldonado canal and Napostá stream, warning about the vulnerability of this place to climatic events and anticipated floods.
Today, 13 years after the publication, the city has suffered great material losses, the evacuation of thousands of families and the death of 16 people with 3 officially missing persons, so far.
CONICET anticipated floods in Bahía Blanca
Costs of reconstructing the city
Setting aside the aforementioned study, recently the mayor of Bahía Blanca, Federico Susbielles, revealed how much money will be needed to rebuild the city after the floods.
The authority estimated that “no less than 400,000 million pesos” will be required to rebuild Bahía Blanca after the tragic floods.
The city had already experienced a similar flood in 2023, and 15 months later will have to make all the effort again.
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