EBN- At least 14 people died in Argentina and two more in Uruguay as fierce winds hit the two Latin American countries on Sunday.
The winds knocked down trees and tore off roofs in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, local authorities said.
The storm also hit the port city, damaging buildings and causing power outages, before moving towards the capital.
Winds reached up to 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour in the city on Saturday. And at least 300 people had been evacuated as of 3.30 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) Sunday, according to local authorities.
Footage published by local media and reportedly shot at the Aeroparque airport near Buenos Aires showed a parked plane being buffeted around by the winds.
A set of boarding stairs could also be seen being blown across a runway and crashing into a luggage carrier.
The city’s emergency teams received 103,544 calls about downed trees, power lines and signs, among other damage.
The office of Argentina’s President Javier Milei said Saturday that the national cabinet is working with provincial and municipal authorities to help the victims and respond to the damage.
Argentine President Javier Milei visited the accident site on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Uruguay’s meteorological agency said two people died as fierce winds gust swept in from the southeast early Sunday morning.