Buenos Aires is experiencing an "energy emergency".
The Speaker of the House, Mauricio Macri, declared a state of energy "emergency" in the Argentine capital due to constant power outages that have left thousands of people without electricity or water, amidst the worst heat wave in four decades.
From Agência Brasil*
Buenos Aires – The president of the Chamber, Mauricio Macri, decreed on Saturday night (28) a state of energy “emergency” in the Argentine capital due to constant supply cuts that left thousands of people without electricity or water, amid the worst heat wave in four decades.
Macri informed journalists that the local administration has been distributing drinking water to the population, reinforcing emergency medical teams, and reducing energy consumption in public buildings to a minimum. "We expect concrete proposals from the national government," said the president of the Chamber.
The government and the opposition have called for an investigation to determine responsibility for the constant power outages that have been occurring in Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area for the past two weeks, since the start of the heat wave.
With high temperatures and power outages, many people have once again blocked roads and highways in protest. At least three people have already died as a result of the heat wave affecting the central and northern parts of the country.
The Meteorological Service predicts that the heat wave should continue until the last day of 2013 and has maintained the red alert for the capital and surrounding areas, where about 15 million people live.
*With information from the Lusa news agency.