After a request of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the Public Communication Secretary Alfredo Scoccimarro announced a 2-day national mourning over the Rosario city tragedy where at least 10 people died after a building collapsed allegedly due to a major gas leak.
In a press conference at the government house, Scoccimarro said Fernández de Kirchner signed the 1077 decree declaring two days of national mourning throughout the territory with Argentina’s national flag fluttering at half mast.
The president, who arrived this morning from New York, made this afternoon a surprise visit to the tragedy area in Rosario.
Later, Kirchner visited some of the wounded in a hospital close to the explosion site, accompanied by Santa Fe governor Antonio Bonfatti, Rosario mayor Mónica Fein and Oscar Parrilli, general secretary of the presidency.
She will meet with Bonfatti and Fein later on Wednesday to discusss policy.
The central administration has been coordinating efforts with municipal and provincial authorities in Santa Fe.
Defence Minister Agustín Rossi and Security Secretary Sergio Berni arrived yesterday in Rosario joined by a special rescue task force of the Federal Police. Furthermore, 500 military police officers have been deployed in the city, put in charge of surveillance and assistance works.
Suorce: Buenos Aires Herald