By Sama Marwan,
A severe and unprecedented cold wave has swept across Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, claiming the lives of at least 15 people so far and prompting the governments of all three countries to enact emergency measures, including restrictions on gas supplies and the launch of urgent shelter plans to protect vulnerable populations.
According to Infobae, the extreme weather conditions are due to a mass of polar air originating from Antarctica, which has swept through southern Latin America, causing a sharp drop in temperatures well below zero across the three nations.
Authorities in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay have urged citizens to exercise maximum caution and have intensified programs to shelter homeless individuals and vulnerable groups in an effort to prevent further casualties from the freezing temperatures. Meteorological agencies in all three countries are closely monitoring the situation, noting that this cold wave ranks among the most severe to hit the region in many years.
Argentina’s Ministry of Energy announced that the country will limit natural gas supplies for industrial use, as residents facing the recent extreme cold have consumed significantly more energy to heat their homes. The country is experiencing its coldest spell in 30 years, driving record demand. Argentina’s National Gas Regulatory Entity (ENARGAS) expects consumption to be 25% higher than on the same day last year.
