Last Friday, May 16, model Sofía Zámolo experienced one of the most painful moments of her life. Her husband's uncle, Diego Uriburu, 71 years old, disappeared during the violent storm that affected a large part of the province of Buenos Aires. After hours of uncertainty, it was confirmed that he was the first fatal victim of the climate catastrophe.
Diego Uriburu had left San Antonio de Areco heading to Baradero when his family lost all contact with him around 5 p.m. It was known that he was going to take Route 41, but he never reached his destination. From that moment, his search became desperate.
El pedido de ayuda de Sofía Zámolo en redes en medio de la tragedia por la inundaciones.
A journey cut short in the middle of the storm
Through her Instagram account, Sofía Zámolo shared an urgent plea for help. In her message, she reported that her uncle was traveling in a Renault KWID, license plate AD772IX, and emphasized the importance of spreading the information. The family feared for his health, as Diego was insulin-dependent and did not have his medication with him.
They found his body and confirmed the tragedy
The following Sunday, Fabián García, director of Civil Defense of the province, confirmed to Radio Splendid the discovery of a body near Route 41. Although the identity was not initially revealed, shortly after, the family was notified that it was Diego Uriburu.
The news was especially painful for the model, who had mobilized thousands of followers on social media in the hope of finding him alive. Her uncle's death marked the beginning of the tragic human toll of the floods.
An unprecedented storm
The storm that affected the province of Buenos Aires left more than 4,000 evacuees. The rains exceeded 400 millimeters in some localities, causing river overflows and severe flooding. Campana, Zárate, and San Antonio de Areco were among the most affected areas.
The Zámolo family was not the only one hit by the tragedy, but their case gained visibility thanks to the public exposure of the model, who was very active on social media. Her post caused hundreds of messages of support from colleagues, public figures, and followers.
El mensaje de agradecimiento de la modelo a sus seguidores (Instagram).
A heartbreaking closure
Sofía Zámolo thanked the support received during such a painful moment. Her final message was not only one of gratitude but also of awareness about the havoc that climate phenomena can cause when there is no adequate foresight or infrastructure.
The loss of Diego Uriburu not only struck a family but also became a symbol of the drama that the province went through during those fatal hours.
