A meteotsunami struck the coast of Santa Clara del Mar on January 12, 2026, causing one man's death and injuring dozens. The event, which raised water levels up to five meters in minutes, was captured live by Matías Alé's program in Mar del Plata. Experts attribute it to a meteotsunami, a type of wave driven by atmospheric changes.
On January 12, 2026, a meteotsunami hit the beach of Santa Clara del Mar, about 20 kilometers from Mar del Plata, on Argentina's Atlantic Coast. According to Civil Defense reports, water levels rose up to five meters in just minutes, dragging bags, umbrellas, and lounge chairs. Witnesses described how the sea unusually receded before giant waves arrived, forcing swimmers to flee desperately.
One man died after being pushed by the water against rocks on a breakwater. He was identified as a young Mar del Plata jockey residing in France. Another man, around 30 years old, suffered a heart attack while being swept away by the sea around 4:20 p.m., with his wife and daughter; lifeguards rescued him and performed CPR for over half an hour, leaving him in critical condition at a local hospital. Additionally, 35 people sustained minor injuries, such as bruises and scrapes.
In Mar del Plata, comedian Matías Alé and his reporter Jorge 'Carna' Crivelli captured the impact live during their beach program. Alé recounted: 'I was in the middle. Suddenly, a tsunami appeared, and people started running out desperately.' The dialogue captured the surprise: Carna warned 'The tide is rising... It rose suddenly,' while Alé replied 'It rose suddenly.' An oceanographer confirmed it was apparently a meteotsunami, a phenomenon caused by atmospheric disturbances that generate fast coastal waves.
The event caused panic among tourists, but no mass evacuations were reported. Sources like TN and Perfil highlighted the speed of the occurrence, which caught everyone in the area off guard.
