Mr. Pablo Novak, 93 years old, has been living in the ghost town of Epecuen (Argentina) for nearly 25 years; he is the only person remaining here after the town was submerged in floodwaters.
As the sole resident of the “ghost town” that was drowned nearly 40 years ago, Pablo Novak is dubbed the loneliest man in the world.
He told CNN: “Until about 4 or 5 years after the flood, when the water was still rising, no one came here at all.“
In a 2015 interview, Mr. Pablo mentioned that his wife did not return to the town with him. She and their children live in a nearby town. His home is small and dusty, filled with rusty chairs and old newspapers, and it even lacks electricity.
Mr. Pablo is the only resident living in Epecuen for the past 25 years.
“I came back here to be with my livestock, and I will never leave again. I am completely alone, every day,” Pablo confided.
Every day, he strolls around the town with his dog and “has gotten used to being alone.”
“At my age, I simply enjoy life by walking through the ruins of Epecuen, hoping someone will ask me something,” Mr. Pablo said.
The small house where Mr. Pablo lives in the town.
The town of Epecuen, located 300 miles southwest of Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, was submerged in floodwaters in 1985. When Mr. Pablo returned to the town to live 25 years ago, he resided in an abandoned house with a garden.
Around 1980, Epecuen had a population of 2,000 people and was a popular lakeside resort, attracting 20,000 tourists each year.
Old photos show visitors in swimsuits enjoying the clear waters of Laguna Epecuen – a place believed by some to have healing properties. They flocked from various localities hoping that the waters might help alleviate ailments ranging from arthritis, skin diseases, diabetes, to depression.
Every day, Mr. Pablo walks around the town with his dog.
The town had a train station built in 1972 and about 280 businesses, including hotels, a museum, and a racetrack.
The disaster struck in November 1985 when a rare weather phenomenon occurred. Heavy rains caused a dam to break, and within two weeks, the town was submerged under three meters of water. Most residents fled and never returned.
Over the years, the water level rose, peaking at 10 meters in 1993, with further rises occurring in 2009.
