Reuters set a record for Argentina in the heat wave

By Juan Bustamante

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina is facing a historic heatwave, rising to 40 degrees Celsius (104 ° F), forcing the country to become the hottest place on the planet for some time, forcing electricity networks and forcing its neighbors to seek sanctuary. shadow.

Hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity in and around the bustling capital city of Buenos Aires when power outages rose to 45 ° C (113 ° F) in parts of the South American country.

“I came home and we were without electricity and the house was an oven,” said Jose Casabal, 42, to find somewhere to cool his children. “So I took her to my grandmother’s house to swim in the pool.”

Temperatures in Argentina, where the dry hot weather driven by the La Nina weather pattern is already hitting the harvest, was the hottest spot on earth for several hours, taking over parts of Australia that cooled at night.

“It was very hot in the early hours of the morning, about 31 degrees,” said Gustavo Barrios, a 34-year-old Tiger, who was sitting in the shade of some trees. “I don’t have air conditioning in the house and we were just blowing hot air with the fan. It’s unbearable.”

Local leaders warned residents to stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day to wear light clothing and stay hydrated.

“We have to be careful today,” said Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, the mayor of Buenos Aires.

Meteorologist Lucas Berengua said the heat wave was off the charts and could set records in the country.

“It is a special heat wave that has extreme temperature values ​​that will be studied even after completion, and can lead to some historical records of Argentina’s temperature and heat duration,” he said.

For some it raised questions about climate change and extreme weather. Argentina has witnessed a number of unusual fires in recent years around its main river delta and the main river Parana has fallen to a nearly 80-year low water level.

“I was always born here in a warm climate and over the years I’ve seen how the temperature changes, and it’s not the way we’re used to,” said Marta Lorusso, a 59-year-old architect.

“With low pressure this really kills me, I can’t stand it. I drink a liter of water and do what I can. And also without electricity. I don’t know what to do.”