Mendoza white wind prompts evacuation of over 200 tourists

A sudden white‑wind storm hit the high‑mountain area of Puente del Inca in Mendoza Province, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 200 visitors to the nearby town of Penitentes. The Gendarmería Nacional coordinated the operation with local emergency services, issuing an early‑warning alert and moving tourists before visibility dropped to near‑zero. No injuries were reported and the Cristo Redentor International Pass remained closed due to ongoing snowfalls.

At the same time, the Zonda wind battered other parts of Mendoza, causing 64 incidents across nine departments. Fallen trees, broken power poles and cables, and 19 field fires were recorded, with one elderly man injured by a falling branch. The most affected districts were Guaymallén (33 incidents) and Las Heras (11 incidents). Classes were suspended province‑wide, and emergency crews continued monitoring the situation.

Overall, the extreme weather, which has persisted since mid‑July, led to large‑scale preventive measures, significant infrastructure strain, and heightened alerts for both tourists and residents in the region.