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3:02
Big heat wave this week in Argentina
Extreme temperatures reaching up to 43 degrees Celsius
High temperatures have led to record energy consumption, causing blackouts and an increase in fires in regions currently heavily affected by drought.
The scorching and dry climate, caused by La Niña, a natural phenomenon, has transformed the South American country into perhaps the hottest spot on the planet today.
In Buenos Aires, the thermometers reached 41.1 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the second-highest temperature recorded since measurements began in 1906. It is only surpassed by the one reached on January 29, 1957, when it was 43.3 degrees.
In Córdoba, the central region, the temperature reached 42.5 degrees, while in the northern city of Santiago del Estero the temperature on Wednesday exceeded 41 degrees for the second day in a row, according to information from the National Meteorological Service.
The agency estimates that the high temperatures will continue until Saturday. The temperature record skyrocketed energy consumption and technical breakdowns that led to a major power outage.
More than 700,000 people in Buenos Aires and its metropolitan region spent Tuesday night without power, did not have fans, or refrigeration. An important part of the electrical network was restored hours after the blackout. However, around 17,000 people were still without power on Wednesday.
Added to the high temperatures is the lack of rain. The Paraná River, the second largest in South America, has been at its lowest level since 1945, according to the Argentine Naval Prefecture.
Until the month of January, its waters have dropped one meter on the shores of the city of Santa Fe, the nearby tidal lagoons have evaporated and others have decreased to the minimum.
The low level of the water hinders the route of the large freight ships that transport soybeans and corn that fill up in Argentina.
Impending fires
The drought and the flames unleashed this summer have led the Government to announce this Wednesday the "igneous emergency" throughout the national territory, for a period of one year.
This measure was taken to adopt the necessary measures to address imminently the drowning of forest fires and prevention of new outbreaks.
The decree issued by the Official Gazette, warned of the risk of the situation and the latent danger of an environmental catastrophe, and assured that this declaration of igneous emergency at the national level is important and necessary.
The Government is also concerned about the results of the lack of rainfall in the Argentine open field, which represents 9% of the national economy and is the main source of income.
In 2018, the largest drought streak in the last 50 years was recorded, involving losses of more than 4,000 million dollars. They fear that the situation will lead to something similar, since it would further complicate the economic crisis in Argentina.
