Montevideo caught off guard by heavy rains

The capacity of Montevideo’s infrastructure to deal with extreme weather has been called into question following an unexpected summer storm that led to floods and energy cuts.

By Tuesday morning, at least 8,325 users in Uruguay’s capital remained without electricity, according to state-owned energy firm UTE. And local news reported flooding in some neighborhoods.

Governor Carolina Cosse said an extraordinary weather event is to blame. During Monday morning between 90mm and 150mm of rainfall were registered in one hour, while the monthly average for January is 92mm. 

The city’s rain drainage network “isn’t prepared, and is very difficult for it to be, to receive in one hour what it receives in one month and a half,” Cosse told a press conference.

Mayor Diego Rodríguez criticized the comments. On social media, he claimed the local government isn’t concerned with flood prevention works. He promoted a tax cut for those affected by the heavy rains.

In November, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$70mn loan to improve sanitation, waste disposal services, and storm drainage infrastructure in Montevideo.

However, members of the governing board have requested more funds from the loan be allocated to drainage infrastructure, which Cosse opposes because it would delay implementation, according to the local government’s website.