On 9 February 2009, due to intense rainfall a landslide took place on the western mountainous city of Tartagal in the province of Salta.
A massive landslide of water and mud then hit the town of Tartagal, northern Argentina, leaving at least 12 people missing and over 1000 evacuated.
Environmentalists and indigenous communities quickly pointed the finger towards the clearing of native woods as one of the reasons behind the phenomenon. Even though the government and other organizations rushed into denying any relation, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez went into her office and signed the final ruling of a native woods protection law that had been laying on her desk for over a year.
Greenpeace Argentina says that over 4 thousand hectares of woods were cleared from the river's coastlines and surroundings, an area equivalent to three times the size of the city of Tartagal.
The Civil Defense (Defensa Civil) in the province of Salta informed that 10,000 people have lost their homes, 742 people have been evacuated and eight temporary shelters have been opened to shelter the affected families. The most immediate needs identified by the local authorities are safe water, food items, clothes, bed clothes, footwear, mattresses, diapers and the rehabilitation of sanitary systems.
Update:
Heavy rains persisted in the northwestern city of Tartagal, in Salta. The situation is hampering the return home of more than 600 people. Argentinean president announced on February 13 a USD 45.4 million fund to reconstruct houses, roads, sewage and gas systems. More than 87,000 food rations, 2,400 mattresses, 1,300 blankets, bed linen and mineral water has been distributed in the affected zones, according to authorities. No further needs have been identified.
