An intense weather event hit the province of Salta in recent hours, causing sudden floods, overflowing rivers, and a serious housing emergency, with the greatest impact in the southern part of the province. According to local media, rainfall reached unprecedented levels for the region, setting a historical record and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The epicenter of the emergency was located in the department of Metán and the town of El Galpón. In critical points, such as the intersection of Buenos Aires and Juana Azurduy streets, the force of the water was so strong that it collapsed an underground channel and completely destroyed the pavement. The human and material consequences are alarming. More than 240 people have been evacuated. The most affected areas include Metán, El Galpón, and the 20 de Junio and Villa San José neighborhoods, where roads are impassable, channels have overflowed, and power supplies have been cut as a precaution. Authorities recommend taking extreme precautions, avoiding driving through flooded areas, staying informed through official channels, and preparing emergency supplies for possible new river floods. So far, more than 240 people have been evacuated in El Galpón and nearby areas. Official meteorological data and local authority reports indicate that around 200 millimeters of rain fell in a very short period of time in Metán, an extraordinary figure for the area. The magnitude of the phenomenon caused almost immediate flooding in various urban sectors. Many of them were accommodated in the Municipal Sports Complex, set up as a permanent containment and assistance center. “It rained, the Juramento River overflowed and the water came in with everything. The amount that entered is impressive, I lost everything,” said Claudia Chávez, one of the affected residents. The accounts are repeated among the victims: the flood advanced with unusual speed.
