Heavy rains in southern and central Chile have led to the declaration of a state of catastrophe in several regions, resulting in one death and damage to hundreds of homes. The downpours and strong winds have caused chaos, with a street lamp post falling on a person in Linares. The country’s weather service issued the highest level of alarm for six of the 16 regions, forcing authorities to act quickly.
Chile’s Interior Minister, Carolina Toha, stated that although 80 percent of the storm had passed, caution must still be exercised. The central region of Chile had been facing severe drought for the past 15 years before being hit by the floods. In one of the worst-hit towns, Curanilahue, residents have been stranded due to overflowing rivers and heavy rainfall, causing damage to about 2,000 homes. President Gabriel Boric, who was in Sweden at the time, warned that the rains would continue to impact the region.
Initially affecting around 4,300 people, the disaster response service, SENAPRED, reported that the number of affected individuals had decreased to about 3,300. Schools in Santiago were closed as a precaution, and people were advised to limit their movements. In Vina del Mar, efforts were underway to prevent a 12-storey apartment building from collapsing due to a sinkhole created by the heavy rains.
Authorities confirmed that the severe weather was caused by a cold front accompanied by an “atmospheric river” that carried large amounts of moisture. As the storm moved towards neighbouring Argentina, Chileans were urged to remain vigilant despite the worst of the frontal system having passed. Despite the devastation caused by the heavy rains, efforts were being made to rescue those stranded and provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.
The state of catastrophe declared in five regions expedited the deployment of resources to assist with rescue and relief efforts. The gravity of the situation required boats to evacuate residents trapped in their homes due to the overflowing rivers. The enormous amount of rainfall in a short period has overwhelmed the region, causing chaos and destruction.
Chile’s resilience is being tested once again by the severe weather conditions, as authorities and emergency services work tirelessly to assist those affected by the heavy rains. The impact of the floods has been significant, with homes destroyed and lives lost. The country must now come together to support and rebuild the affected communities, ensuring that they are able to recover from this natural disaster as quickly as possible.
