Overview
- The surge hit around 4:15 p.m. local time, sweeping beaches in Santa Clara del Mar, Mar del Plata and nearby Mar Chiquita.
- Civil defense confirmed one death in Santa Clara del Mar and at least 35 injuries, with a separate report of a heart attack during the chaos.
- Witnesses and lifeguards said the sea briefly receded before a fast, powerful wall of water arrived, catching beachgoers off guard.
- Authorities evacuated beaches and deployed health, security and tourism agencies as rescues and medical assessments continued.
- Exact wave heights have not been verified, though some reports described surges over five meters and video showed rapid flooding across crowded shoreline areas.