After a prolonged drought, within the framework of three consecutive years with rainfall below the historical average in Córdoba, the intense rains of the last two days abruptly changed the outlook.
As if, suddenly, the La Niña phenomenon that generated the long drought had ended. In fact, a gradual shift towards El Niño was forecast from March or April,
Records of more than between 80 and 100 millimeters in many areas and more than 180 in some points (such as in the Sierras del Sur) generated flooding of rivers with damage in various towns and cities.
There are positive balances: the mountain dams, which came with a disturbingly low level, are now finally approaching levels close to their dumps, which is to be expected for this time. Even this Thursday, there was already a lake that overflowed and exceeded that point: the Reservoir, in Calamuchita, the largest in the province.
Also the rains, although late, represent some future relief for the agricultural sector. However, they will no longer imply an improvement in the current harvest, diminished by the drought that has passed.
But, at the same time, the heavy rainfall in a short time generated damage and alerts in various areas.
points with damage
The main problems, since Wednesday night, were reported to the south of the Calamuchita department, (in the area of Villa Cañada del Sauce and Villa Quillinzo) and in the west of the Río Cuarto department (Alpa Corral). In those areas there were records of up to 180 millimeters of water falling in one day. It is more than it had rained in several accumulated months.
Swollen rivers surpassed bridges and caused severe damage to about twenty homes and cabins near the riverbeds of both towns. For two cabins the destruction was total. There were also more than 20 people evacuated.
Neighbors of Villa Cañada del Sauce pointed out this Thursday that in decades they had not seen the Quillinzo river with such a flow. The enormous rise of this river also explains the increase in the level of the reservoir dam, into which it flows.
Villa Quillinzo was another town with damage: its water treatment plant was destroyed.
Already on the plain, the city of Río Cuarto suffered numerous damages in precarious houses built on the banks of the river that crosses it.
In Ucacha (Juárez Celman department) the containment of the Alas Coloradas lagoon was broken, which is now at risk of drying up. After breaking the containment barrier, the water evacuated forcefully towards the El Barrial lagoon. This basin receives water from the Chucul river and the La Felipa lagoon. After damaging the flow of water to the containment spillway, in a short time the lagoon reduced its volume and complicated areas of its region.
all over the map
The rise of the Tercero River Reservoir led to the decision to open the gates of the Piedras Moras dam, in the same basin, but downstream, to make room for more volume in view of forecasts of new rains.
Consequently, the Tercero River (or Ctalamochita) registered a strong flood yesterday, but without causing problems, as it passes through cities such as Río Tercero, Villa María and Bell Ville.
The storm that in the last hours of Wednesday fell on the southern province avan
It rose this Thursday towards the center and north of the province, with records close to 100 millimeters at various points.
In the Punilla valley, for example, it generated the sudden rise of several rivers, such as the San Antonio and the Cosquín, with rises of between four and five meters. Both feed the San Roque dam, which had closed the summer far from its landfill.
The rains also reached Sierras Chicas, another critical area due to the low records in recent months.
In the west, over the Traslasierra valley, the Panaholma and Mina Clavero rivers registered a significant increase that caused the cutting of some fords and bridges, but without major consequences.
From the Secretary of Climate Risk Management of the Province it was indicated that the early warning system remained active with police, Civil Defense, ETAC and fire personnel in coastal areas and flood-prone sectors, in addition to monitoring data from sensors that measure the level of rivers.
It was also recommended for this Friday to avoid circulating near the mountain rivers, since the level of floods will be sustained.
assistance
From the Government of the Province, meanwhile, it was assured that an assistance plan for the victims had already been launched.
The Ministry of Social Development indicated that the Permanent Fund for Attention to Disaster Situations will be applied, which provides subsidies for the repair of damage to movable and immovable property caused by climatic events or by fires. Contributions were also made to communes whose infrastructure suffered damage.