Bariloche: Three-year-old girl dies after car falls into Nahuel Huapi

A three-year-old girl died on Saturday after her family's vehicle lost control on Avenida Bustillo in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, and plunged into Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Preliminary reports suggest that ice accumulation on the roadway caused the vehicle to skid. The car reportedly went off the road, descended a cliff of more than 20 meters, and became submerged in the lake. While the parents managed to escape the vehicle, they were unable to release their daughter, who remained trapped by her seatbelt.

A complex rescue operation was launched involving divers from the Prefectura Naval Argentina, local firefighters, and Civil Protection agents. After several hours of work in freezing conditions, the child's body was recovered. The parents were hospitalized with injuries and symptoms of hypothermia.

Local prosecutors Guillermo Lista and Álvaro Viterbori are overseeing the investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. The incident has renewed concerns regarding road safety and the need for better maintenance and containment barriers on the routes surrounding Lake Nahuel Huapi during the winter season.