Chile – Heavy Rain and Floods Leave at Least 2 Dead, 10 Missing

by in Americas, News

Days of heavy rain in Chile has caused widespread flooding and landslides and left at least 2 people dead and 10 missing.

Wide areas of the nation’s capital, Santiago, are under water. At one point 4 million people were left without drinking water and tens of thousands without power across central Chile.

The rain began to fall on Friday 15 April. The latest report from Chile’s office of national emergencies (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública – ONEMI) says that two people have died, 10 are missing and 359 have been injured. Around 140 homes have suffered major damage.

The victims are thought to have died in the San Jose de Maipo valley, a mountainous area just southeast of Santiago. A further 3 people are missing and teams of army and special police operations (Grupo de Operaciones Policiales Especiales – GOPE) personel are carrying out search efforts.

GOPE are also carrying out searches for 2 people who were swept away by flood waters near San Fernando in the province of Colchagua, O’Higgins Region.

Teams from GOPE searching for the missing in El Melocotón, San José de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile Photo; GOPE / Carabineros de Chile
Teams from GOPE searching for the missing in El Melocotón, San José de Maipo, Región Metropolitana, Chile Photo; GOPE / Carabineros de Chile
Teams from GOPE searching for the missing in San Fernando, Colchagua, O'Higgins region. Photo; GOPE / Carabineros de Chile
Teams from GOPE searching for the missing in San Fernando, Colchagua, O’Higgins region. Photo; GOPE / Carabineros de Chile

At least 10 of the country’s 15 regions have been affected by the recent severe weather; Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago Metropolitan, O’Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Aysén.

Levels of the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca rivers are high and threatening to overflow in several municipalities of the O’Higgins region. Flood gates yesterday were opened on the Rapel Dam on the Rapel River about 19 km north of La Estrella, at the confluence of the Cachapoal and Tinguiririca.

In Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Mapocho river has overflowed, causing problems in the commune of Vitacura in Santiago Province. Also in the Metropolitan region, the Angostura river has overflowed in Comuna de Paine, Maipo province, damaging 10 homes and leaving 35 people homeless.

Local media reported on Saturday that over 4 million people had been left without drinking water. In ONEMI’s latest report, that figure now stands at just over 500,000 in areas of central Chile. There were also over 25,000 without power. In the Municipality of Santiago, several drinking water points were set up for those without access to drinking water.

Drinking water distribution point set up by the Municipality of Santiago, Chile. Photo: Municipalidad de Santiago
Drinking water distribution point set up by the Municipality of Santiago, Chile. Photo: Municipalidad de Santiago

The Municipality of the Metropolitan Region and the Ministry of Education have closed schools and suspended classes in several areas.

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