Mar del Plata social and security crisis

Mar del Plata is experiencing a multifaceted crisis involving public health, economic stability, and rising crime. Health professionals at the Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos (HIGA) have reported an increase in suicide attempts and emotional crises, noting that 66% of the 153 cases recorded this year involved women, primarily in the 25 to 34 age group. Contributing factors include domestic violence, unemployment, and debt. The hospital also documented a surge in violent crime, including multiple gunshot wound admissions within a single six-hour period.

Simultaneously, the city is facing economic strain, with the Union of Commerce, Industry, and Production (Ucip) reporting that 11.7% of businesses in ten open-air shopping centers have closed, a 48% increase since May. In response to these security and commercial challenges, Mar del Plata Mayor Guillermo Montenegro and Buenos Aires Province Security Minister Javier Alonso have met to coordinate increased police interventions and joint raids between provincial and federal forces.