Argentina town’s only bridge swept away by mud wave: video

Flood waters in northern Argentina caused a massive wave of mud to violently wash away an entire bridge as local residents ran in panic.

Shocking video recorded in the Catamarca province shows a group of residents eyeing the surging Rincon River on Monday following days of heavy rain in the region.

The river is then hit by a sudden wave of water, mud and rocks, which collides with the only bridge leading out of the town of Rincon.

Instead of shattering under the weight of the mighty wave, the bridge is lifted right off the road and carried into the roaring river.

Witnesses could do nothing but yell in horror as the span quickly disappeared into the deluge — and those who were standing a little too close to the edge were forced to run as the muddy waters began to rush up the banks and flood the walking paths.

The destroyed bridge was the only one of its kind in Rincon, isolating the town of less than 600 people from neighboring villages, South American news station teleSur reported.

Ricardo Lescano, the spokesperson for the neighboring Saujil town, noted that the bridge had been inaugurated a little more than a month ago, according to Buenos Aires newspaper Pagina 12.

Government officials said that the Rincon bridge was only one of two lost due to the recent flooding in the region.

“Due to the intense rains of the last few hours, there have been strong surges in the Rincon and Sijan rivers,” the Catamarca government said in a statement.

No casualties have yet to be reported in the incidents.

The Civil Defense Force has been mobilized to assist the residents in Rincon and others affected by the flooding in the Catamarca province.