At least thirteen people were killed Saturday in Argentina after a violent storm hit the port city of Bahía Blanca with strong winds and rain, about 400 miles south of the capital, Buenos Aires, officials said.
The nation’s weather service Buenos Aires residents warned that the storm, which had gusts of up to 86 miles per hour, makes it comparable to a category one hurricane, and blew the roofs off in Bahía Blanca, was heading towards them. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and intense winds to the capital.
President Javier Milei and the mayor of Bahía Blanca confirmed the deaths.
Images published by local media showed harrowing scenes in Bahía Blanca, where more than 300,000 people live. The video showed violent winds whip the sides of skyscrapers accompanied by distant flashes of lightning and a suffocating haze that blankets much of the city. The images showed large trees felled and buildings in tatters, some with their roofs blown off or collapsed.
The worst damage occurred at a basketball gym, Club Bahiense del Norte, officials said, where emergency medical workers were working to treat victims.
In a statement, Mr Milei said his Cabinet officials were assisting local authorities.
“The President expresses his deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who died as a result of the storm,” read a statement released shortly after 11pm local time.
