Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof announced an AR$273 billion (US$ 222 million at the MEP rate) aid package for Bahía Blanca. The city was hit by severe floods following a massive rainstorm on Friday. The package, which includes the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and tax reliefs, complements the AR$10 billion (US$8.1 million at the MEP rate) sent by the national administration.

“There is a first lesson, not aiming to engage in a controversy: this is the state — the firefighter, the police offices, the ambulances, the patrol cars, are the state,” said Kicillof, taking a thinly-veiled jab at President Javier Milei. “Without the state, there is no answer. Without public works, there is no solution to this issue.”

Milei has consistently said that he does not believe in the state, and defines himself as “the mole” who came to destroy it from within.

On Friday, the port city home to 336,000 inhabitants was hit by intense flooding after unprecedented rainfall. There are 16 confirmed dead and more than 100 missing people. Before Kicillof spoke, Bahía Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles summarized the current situation, saying the floods have receded in most affected areas, 80% of the population now has electricity, and supermarkets and gas stations reopened.

“The emergency is easing, but it is not over,” Kicillof said.

Kicillof’s announcements included a 12-month-long line of soft credits for families and small businesses, 36 installments without interest for buying household appliances, tax relief, AR$800,000 (US$650) subsidies for 33,000 low-income households, 7,000 school kits and uniforms, and the reparation of the state-owned Penna Hospital.

He also announced the reconstruction of bridges, a canal, public lighting and other urban infrastructures, a total of AR$273 billion from the province’s coffers.

The governor also called for a meeting with Milei, who filed an executive order requesting Congress’ approval of a new loan with the International Monetary Fund. Kicillof asked that “a portion” of that credit be used “for the reconstruction of the city of Bahía” and not “used for speculation, for gambling, for keeping the exchange rate at bay.”