Argentine authorities have reported at least 16 deaths and dozens missing in the coastal city of Bahía Blanca due to sudden and severe flooding caused by a storm that hit the country starting Friday.

President Javier Milei has declared three days of national mourning. In a statement, the presidency said, “All sectors of the national government will continue dedicating their efforts (…) to assist the victims in this painful moment for all Argentinians.”

Local authorities have also received over 100 reports of missing persons following the storm, which struck the city that houses one of Argentina’s main ports, located 600 kilometers south of Buenos Aires.

Bahía Blanca has previously experienced extreme weather events. At the end of 2023, a violent storm with heavy rains and winds reaching 150 km/h led to the deaths of 13 people when the roof of a sports club collapsed.