Unusually heavy rainfall in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires since May 16, 2025, has caused massive flooding in the agricultural region. Over the course of just three days, some areas recorded more than 400 millimeters of rain – with San Antonio de Areco receiving over 260 mm in just 24 hours [1,2]. More than 7,500 people have been forced to leave their homes, with over 3,100 of them placed in emergency shelters [2].
A bus with 44 passengers had to be evacuated in Zárate due to a flooded bridge [2]. The floods also affected areas that had never experienced flooding before, signaling that previous risk assessments no longer apply [1].
The event is notable not only for its severity but also for its social impact: many of those affected come from poorer regions with weak infrastructure. It is still unclear what long-term effects the flooding will have on agriculture, particularly the soybean harvest, a critical component of Argentina’s economy.
As of May 19, 2025, 09:00 CEST
[1] Tagesschau (2025): Heftige Überschwemmungen in Argentinien. Retrieved 19/05/2025 under: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/argentinien-unwetter-ueberschwemmungen-100.html
[2] Buenos Aires Times (2025): More than 7,500 evacuated from flooding in Buenos Aires Province. Retrieved 19/05/2025 under: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/more-than-7500-evacuated-from-flooding-in-buenos-aires-province.phtml
(Image Source: Tagesschau | AP)