 It was, however, too late, as the following day a great flood occurred, water rising in the city proper to the height of two metres.The ravages of the water were terrible, the greater portion of the houses were rendered uninhabitable, and according to some historians 30,000 persons lost their lives.Some years later the auditor, Don Juan de Villabona Cubiaurre, was appointed chief superintendent of the work and submitted an unfavourable report on the work of Martínez.