An intense polar wave accompanied by a fierce snowstorm and white wind keeps the Andean region of the country paralyzed. There are four provinces under alert, with classes suspended and border crossings disabled.
Unprecedented aerial operation in the Catamarca Puna
The epicenter of the emergency is located in Antofagasta de la Sierra, more precisely in the Salar del Hombre Muerto. There, a race against time is underway to evacuate stranded mining workers:
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Successful land evacuation: After more than 24 hours of intense work at the mountain’s foot, a group of tourists and several workers were brought to safety.
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Urgent aerial operation: The director of Civil Defense of Catamarca, Walter Zárate, confirmed that there are still five workers from the Río Tinto company to be assisted. Due to the impossibility of accessing by land due to snow accumulation and zero visibility, their evacuation was arranged by a helicopter transferred from Buenos Aires.
Strong controversy with mining unions
The Argentine Mining Workers Association (AOMA) denounced that the companies involved ignored weather alerts and violated safety protocols.
“The storm was minimized. If circulation was authorized when the winter protocol prohibited it, we are facing an extremely serious situation,” warned Gustavo Molina, the union’s general secretary, who requested to investigate what happened and apply the preventive removal of those responsible for Road Safety at the sites.
Catamarca below zero: record temperatures and isolation
The scenario in the province is alarming:
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Extreme cold: In the Tres Quebradas camp (Fiambalá), at 4,500 m a.s.l., the temperature dropped to a shocking -27°C.
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Buried vehicles: Trucks were recorded covered by more than a meter of snow, severely affecting operations and local wildlife. The Ministry of Mining requested to avoid all non-essential travel to the high mountains.
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Paso San Francisco closed: It remains disabled due to ice and gusts exceeding 170 km/h. The staff at the Las Grutas Border Complex is isolated and must melt snow to obtain drinking water.
The impact of the polar wave in San Juan, Mendoza, and Salta
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) maintains orange and yellow alerts in the rest of the Andean range:
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San Juan: In Barreal (Calingasta), three consecutive days of snowfall were recorded. The accumulation caused the collapse of roofs, falling trees, and power outages, forcing the suspension of classes.
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Mendoza: In areas like Las Leñas and Los Puquios, the accumulated snow exceeded one and a half meters, keeping alerts active throughout the mountainous area.
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Salta: In the Salta Puna, gusts with white wind drastically reduce visibility on the roads, so authorities demand extreme caution when traveling.
