After several days with an alert due to a drop in temperature and intense snowfall in the Andes Mountains, the white blanket appeared and covered the entire mountain range. The National Meteorological Service published a yellow alert for this Saturday that applies to both the Cuyo area and Patagonia. The affected provinces are: San Juan, Mendoza, Neuquén and Santa Cruz. The extreme cold in the surrounding area has already claimed one life and it was that of a man who lived homeless, who died of hypothermia.
Patagonia is covered in snow and in the town of Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz, a 59-year-old man died. He was identified as Óscar Quinteros and two neighbors were the ones who found him without vital signs in an open field. “He did not present signs of violence or any bruising that would indicate a fall or a violent death, our hypothesis is that he could have frozen to death,” a police source explained to La Opinión Austral. Later, it was learned that the man had suffered cardiorespiratory arrest as a result of the low temperatures.
Closed steps
The pass that connects Neuquén with Chile, the Pino Hachado, is closed and there are 250 trucks stranded in the town of Las Lajas. On the other hand, in the Piedra del Águila town, there are 650 people stranded since this Thursday. The local municipality had to set up spaces such as the municipal gym and the bus station so that people could have emergency shelter.
On the other hand, in Mendoza, 38 truck drivers who had been stranded for several days in Uspallata were assisted. Although the majority were in good condition, there were two with respiratory disorders and another with hyperglycemia. Finally, the National Gendarmerie evacuated three employees from the town of Las Cuevas this Friday. They were working at the site when the road became impassable. There are two people who are in the area, one behind a local restaurant and one at a toll plaza. They will be rescued this Saturday, according to what was reported by Diario Uno.
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