Argentina readies winter shelters as El Niño raises flood risk and energy costs soar

Presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier warned that the El Niño phenomenon could increase the likelihood of heavy rains and flooding in July‑August, especially across the Paraná basin provinces of Formosa, Misiones, Chaco, Corrientes and Entre Ríos. In response, the federal emergency agency will launch a "Plan invierno" that will install temporary shelters on national and provincial routes in high‑mountain or extreme‑climate zones so drivers can stop safely during severe weather.

At the same time, households are confronting a sharp rise in energy prices under President Javier Milei’s administration. Tariffs for gas and electricity have been doubled, outpacing overall inflation, prompting families to seek cheaper heating methods such as wood, coal, LPG cylinders or heating a single room. More than half of Argentine homes lack connection to the natural‑gas network, and subsidy cuts have further strained budgets, deepening the winter hardship for many citizens.