Severe flooding triggered by relentless rainfall has wreaked havoc across northern Buenos Aires province in Argentina, a region that forms the backbone of the country's agricultural industry. Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes on Saturday as rising floodwaters inundated towns and rural communities. Emergency services were deployed across the affected zones, with local authorities warning of worsening conditions due to ongoing storms and saturated soils.
The National Meteorological Service had issued a red-level weather alert on Friday night, cautioning that the region could face exceptional and sustained rainfall. By Saturday, between 150mm and 250mm (roughly 6 to 10 inches) of rain had already fallen between the cities of Zarate and Arrecifes. Meteorologists emphasized that storm cells in the area were “regenerating continuously,” making it difficult to predict when the rains might subside. This pattern of persistent storms has overwhelmed drainage systems and raised fears of prolonged flooding.
In dramatic scenes broadcast on Argentine television, residents of Zarate—located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires city—were seen maneuvering through flooded streets in small boats, their possessions precariously piled on board. The floodwaters made conventional transportation nearly impossible, and many families were rescued from rooftops and upper stories of their homes. In one particularly dangerous incident, a long-distance passenger bus carrying 44 people became stranded on Route 9, surrounded by rising water. “The water just rushed in and took over everything,” the driver recounted in an interview with local news outlet C5N.
San Antonio de Areco, another severely impacted town, reported over 260mm of rainfall within a single day. The town’s mayor, Francisco Ratto, described the event as “extraordinary,” noting that such intense precipitation is rarely recorded even during the region’s rainiest periods. Municipal emergency services worked through the night to assist residents, while local officials called for additional resources from the national government to aid in recovery and support evacuations.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the flooding is also casting a shadow over Argentina’s agricultural sector. The region hit hardest by the rains is central to the country’s grain and oilseed production. Experts warn that the downpour will likely cause substantial delays to the ongoing soybean harvest, which is already time-sensitive. Extended exposure to moisture could result in crop degradation, increased mold risk, and logistical complications for transporting goods. Any disruption in Argentina’s agricultural output carries global consequences due to its key role in the international food supply chain.
Argentina stands as the world’s largest exporter of soybean meal and oil, the third-largest corn exporter, and a significant player in the global wheat market. The timing of this natural disaster could not be worse, as global grain markets remain volatile amid geopolitical tensions and climate-related challenges in other producing countries. The Argentine government is now under pressure to coordinate relief efforts while also safeguarding the agricultural exports that underpin a large portion of the nation’s economy.