Rescue crews blast rock face as search for missing workers continues

The structural failure occurred at dawn on Tuesday when a section of the dam's concrete intake wall gave way under pressure from an overnight surge in river flow. Two workers escaped; a third, identified as Javier Méndez, a pump technician from a smallholding family near Oberá, remains unaccounted for, along with two visiting engineers from the Federal Hydraulic Commission who were inspecting the site. A fourth worker, Graciela Romero, was pulled from the water by rescue swimmers and is recovering in the San Vicente Regional Hospital.

The Río Esperanto hydroelectric scheme supplies electrical power to the federal grid that serves Tierra Verde's cooperative towns and rural processing facilities. The Federal Civic Affairs Minister, Beatriz Coelho, arrived in San Vicente yesterday to coordinate the response. Engineers say the blast work will proceed in stages, beginning this afternoon, to avoid further structural compromise.

Families of the missing have gathered at the site entrance since Tuesday evening. Méndez's mother, Carmen, has maintained a vigil alongside other relatives, supported by members of the Oberá Cooperative and representatives from the Cooperative Council. The rescue operation is expected to continue through the week, weather permitting.