Swollen river floods Luján

The Luján river reached a height of 4.70 metres, flooding the centre of the city of Luján yesterday, including the historic district that houses the Basilica and also sectors of the nearby towns of Olivera and Jáuregui.

The river was expected to further swell, reports said last night. The Luján municipal government declared the state of “orange alert” and moved about 300 people out of their homes, most of them living in Olivera, the section of the region that was worst hit by the flooding after the heavy rains lashed Buenos Aires province on Monday night.

Also flooded was Nuestra Señora de Luján Avenue in the historic centre where the Basilica stands in the city centre. But authorities said they did not expect the Basilica itself will suffer from flooding because it stands metres above ground level.

The swollen river and the Gutié-rrez stream also flooded streets in the Padre Varela neighbourhood and many residents decided to leave their homes of their own accord.

Officials said that 20 percent of Olivera is under water and that the flooding is spreading in Jáuregui and Pueblo Nuevo.

A number of roads were also flooded and the city’s long-distance bus station had to be moved due to the flooding. The swelling of the Luján river started on Monday night when heavy rains broke out in the Buenos Aires province towns of Merdeces and Suipacha. More rains were expected in that area last night, officials said.

Herald with Telam