Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Affected districts: Campana and Zárate, Buenos Aires, May 2025. Date of event 17-05-2025 What happened, where and when? On 15 May 2025, intense rainfall began in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) and the northern part of the Province of Buenos Aires. Between 16 and 17 May, exceptional cumulative precipitation was recorded — with estimated values ranging between 150 and 300 millimetres within 24 hours, according to official sources — leading to flash flooding, widespread waterlogging, disruption of transport routes (including National Route No. 9 near Zárate), water ingress into homes, and population evacuations. The National Meteorological Service issued a red alert for rainfall in the northern part of the province. The most severe impacts were concentrated in the partidos of Campana and Zárate, with significant effects in neighborhoods such as San Cayetano and San Felipe, as well as in other localities along the province’s northern corridor. Following the event, conditions began to improve gradually from 18 May onwards, with water levels progressively receding in several areas. However, waterlogging persisted in parts of Zárate for several days, necessitating the continuation of temporary shelter arrangements and ongoing clean-up and recovery actions. In total, over 4. 300 families were displaced as a result of the event. However, due to the terrain characteristics, water receded within a few days, leading to a gradual decline in the number of evacuees, who returned to their homes between 19 and 29 May. Scope and Scale The Province of Buenos Aires has experienced recurrent flooding events, particularly in the Areco River basin and the north-eastern corridor, which includes localities such as Zárate, San Antonio de Areco, Exaltación de la Cruz, Baradero and Salto. These events have shown increased frequency and intensity in recent years, in line with patterns associated with climate change, which heighten the recurrence of intense and prolonged rainfall. The event that occurred between 15 and 17 May 2025 exceeded the response capacity of local systems, primarily affecting the partidos of Campana and Zárate. In Campana, more than 37, 600 people were affected, with more than 4, 000 families relocated to eight centres. In neighborhoods such as San Cayetano and San Felipe, water levels exceeded 1. 5 metres inside homes. Educational activities were suspended for between 10 and 20 days, depending on the area, and multiple health centres, public services and industries sustained significant damage. In Zárate, approximately 48, 000 people were affected, and more than 300 families were relocated, with waterlogging persisting for several days following the event. Disruptions to basic services, such as electricity and drinking water, affected a large proportion of the population. At the regional level, it is estimated that more than 250, 000 people in the AMBA region and the northern part of the province experienced direct or indirect impacts. At least one death was confirmed following the floods, and missing persons were reported who were subsequently found. Basic services began to be progressively restored within the first ten days, while the full recovery of damaged infrastructure extended to approximately two months after the event. The impact of the event significantly affected daily life, livelihoods and the well-being of the population, particularly among highly vulnerable groups. Those most affected included people living in low-lying and flood-prone areas, with precarious housing or limited access to basic services, as well as informal workers who depend on daily income. Among the groups identified as having heightened vulnerability are older persons, children, persons with disabilities and low-income households, who face greater challenges in evacuating, restoring their livelihoods and accessing health services and assistance. Furthermore, communities previously affected by similar events exhibit limited coping capacity, increasing their exposure to recurrent impacts.
Argentina: Pluvial/Flash Flood – DREF Final Report (MDRAR024)
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