UPDATED: Smoke Returns to Buenos Aires

Josh — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:42:43 +0000

- Government Blames Farmers For the Delta Blaze

- BsAs Darkened By Smoke From Delta Grass Fires

UPDATE 4/23 7:42 The dense cloud of smoke has returned to Buenos Aires, bringing with it a familiar smell and the expected round of transportation cuts. Visibility has dropped to 400m in the city and large sections of Rutas 9, 12 and 14 are all closed. Retiro bus station has stopped service to the northern part of Argentina as well as Brazil and Uruguay.

UPDATE 4/18 17:42 The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) is stating that winds from the north will continue through next Tuesday, bringing a steady stream of smoke into Buenos Aires. SMN additionally warns that the smoke will be especially bad this evening, resulting in "zero visibility in the city."

UPDATE 4/18 17:26 The Government has filed formal charges against 200 farm owners for the Parana Delta wildfire. In an attempt to distance the charges from the ongoing campo negotiations, Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo appeared on Radio 10 and stated that the charges have "nothing to do with the discussions with the agricultural sector."

With grass fires in the Delta still raging out of control, the smoke in the Capital is becoming increasingly intense. The poor visibility has forced the government to declare an emergency and close many of the main entrances to Capital Federal. The Panamericana between Campana and Pilar, autopista La Plata-Buenos Aires from Hudson to the Capital, and Rutas 9 and 12 are all closed to road traffic.

Additionally, Retiro station has suspended bus departures indefinitely and the Aeroparque Metropolitano is only operational for departures. Supte line C is closed and all other lines are operating with significant delays.

NASA Image showing the fire locations – outlined in red. The fire has spread to over 270 sq-miles.

According to Ernesto Arriaga, a spokesperson for the Direccion de Vialidad Nacional, there are locations where visibility on the autopistas drops to as low as 5 meters. On the highway connecting Ezeiza airport and Capital visibility never exceeds 200 meters.

The Servicio Meteorologica Nacional (SMN) is reporting that because of an "unusual phenomenon" the smoke will continue to hang over Buenos Aires for the foreseeable future. Winds from the North are transporting smoke from the Delta fires into the city and according to the SMN, "if the fires continue to be active, the smoke will persist."

The Secretary of the Environment, Romina Picolotti, has acknowledged that so long as the fire in the Delta continues, the dense smoke covering the city will continue. Picolotti has also said that the government is unable to stop the blaze, and is currently only working on containing the fire which has spread into Entre Rios. In statements to Radio Americano, Picolotti said that the fire will only be brought under control "if nature helps us."

Smoke blanketing the city of Buenos Aires.

Cerraron los principales accesos a la Capital Federal (Clarin)

El humo se incrementa y complica los accesos a Capital; emergencia vial (La Nacion)

Smoke on the Water…. and in the Sky Over Buenos Aires (A Texan in Argentina – Personal Blog)

BsAs Darkened By Smoke From Delta Grass Fires

Josh — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:35:06 +0000

Smoke clouded the Buenos Aires skyline this afternoon, the result of island grass fires in the Parana Delta. Strong winds are driving the smoke down river, creating severe visibility problems on the highways and enveloping the city in an acrid odor. The fires are located 30 minutes north of Buenos Aires and provincial governments are proving unable to extinguish them.

Buenos Aires obscured by smoke from the delta fires.

The fires are consuming grasslands in the Parana Delta, a complex network of islands, rivers and mainland, 30 minutes north of Buenos Aires. The fires are currently not accessible by overland vehicles, leaving the government with few options in extinguishing them. Firefighters are trying to dampen the flames through the use of water delivering helicopters, however that is proving ineffective as the fires rage on into the second week.

The provincial governments are working in tandem to prevent the fires from moving upriver and into the farming pastures of Entre Rios.

The Interior Ministry closed over 200km of highways today as a safety precaution. With visibility described as "virtually zero," the notoriously dangerous Ruta 9 became impassable. Already this week numerous accidents on Ruta 9 have left 4 dead and more than 20 injured.

Two men suspected of starting the fires have been detained by police, although neither has been charged with a crime. The authorities are still searching for the cause of the fires.

www.lnteve.com

El Gobierno prohíbe circular en un tramo de la ruta 9 (INFOBAE.com)

Smoky (GoodAirs)

Smoky Skies (line of sight)

Fire Haze Shrouds Argentine Capital (Washington Post)

ThroughTheTube.com » Smoke

UPDATED: Smoke Returns to Buenos Aires

BsAs Darkened By Smoke From Delta Grass Fires