Flooding in the north west of Buenos Aires province, Argentina
© Ministro de Agroindustria de la Provincia de Buenos AiresFlooding in the north west of Buenos Aires province, Argentina
Long term flooding in the north west of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, has prompted the provincial government to declare an agricultural emergency for affected areas.

The flooding has affected the low-lying rural, farming areas of Carlos Tejedor, Rivadavia, General Villegas and Trenque Lauquen. Roads are under water and villages left isolated. Some families have been evacuated. However, it is crops and farmland that have been worst hit.

Long-term, persistent rainfall and flood water from the overflowing Quinto River has devastated crops and farmland so severely, farmers have been left with nowhere else to turn but to the provincial government for help and assistance. Dairy farmers are also severely affected. Wide areas of grazing land is underwater and blocked roads have hindered milk collection and distribution.

Yesterday, Buenos Aires Province Minister for Agribusiness, Leonardo Sarquรญs, visited affected areas and declared the agricultural emergency in order to help affected farmers.


Telam new agency reports that the area has seen as much as 400mm of rain so far this month and over 1,200mm this year. The ground is completely saturated and no longer absorbs further rain.

Floods
© Ministro de Agroindustria de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
More than 60% of General Villegas is reported to be under water, leaving communities isolated and huge areas of crops waterlogged.

Rainfall in catchment areas of Santa Fe, Entre Rios and Cordoba provinces has also increased levels of the Quinto River, which has since overflowed, worsening the situation in affected areas of Buenos Aires province.

Floods
© Ministro de Agroindustria de la Provincia de Buenos Aires