Severe rainfall has hit central and southern Chile, causing widespread flooding, road closures and damage to homes. The downpour has disrupted daily life for thousands of residents, with officials declaring a state of catastrophe and emergency. Reports differ on the exact number of casualties, ranging from a minimum of three to at least 13 dead, reflecting the rapidly evolving situation as authorities continue to assess the damage.
Coverage comparison
Our reports provide a range of figures and details, with each outlet updating its information as the crisis developed. Al Jazeera reported the first wave of destruction, stating that torrential rain and strong winds had lashed the region, leaving at least three people dead and displacing hundreds more. President José Antonio Kast announced he was travelling to the Biobio region, one of the affected areas, to survey the damage. At that stage, Al Jazeera reported that 466 people were in shelters, with 158 more isolated, mostly in the Coquimbo region.
The BBC reported that a state of catastrophe had been declared in the Coquimbo region and the province of Huasco. Citing local mayors, the BBC put the death toll at at least five and noted that more than 99,000 people were isolated nationwide, according to Chile's disaster response service, Senapred. The BBC also reported historic rainfall of more than 200 millimetres at Cerro Tololo, citing Chile's meteorological authorities.
Later reports updated the picture. The Jerusalem Post and Deutsche Welle both published figures from Senapred's director, Alicia Cebrian, indicating 13 deaths and seven missing. The same sources noted that 2,281 people had been displaced, 81 homes destroyed and 2,761 with major damage, while 87,000 lacked electricity. Both outlets reported that the government planned to pursue disciplinary proceedings against electricity distributors for the sustained outages.
Key claims
The reports reflect a rising and variable tally. Al Jazeera reported President Kast was travelling to the Biobio region to survey the damage. The BBC reported that the state of catastrophe had been declared in the Coquimbo region and the province of Huasco, and that over 99,000 people were isolated nationwide. Al Jazeera explained that 466 people were in shelters and 158 were isolated in the Coquimbo region.
In terms of direct consequences, Al Jazeera reported that the storms claimed the lives of a labourer clearing a road in the southern town of Negrete, a person who fell while cleaning a roof in Temuco, and a third person who suffered an electric shock in the capital Santiago. These specific incidents have not been confirmed by other accounts, but were reported by Al Jazeera.
Response has been described as multi-fold. In addition to the president's visit, authorities issued a state of emergency, and the national emergency service, Senapred, coordinated the response. Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado warned of continuing hazards, noting that rivers and ravines still posed a threat. He said, according to the DOM, 'There is still a risk of rising water levels' and that 'waterways, streams, and riverbanks have been weakened by the rainfall over the past few days.'
Disruption has been extensive. Schools suspended classes across several municipalities in four regions, according to Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The state mining company Codelco stopped surface operations at the Andina mine due to storms, as Al Jazeera reported. In addition, about 257,000 remained without power in the south, a figure that was then later reduced to 87,000 in the new tally with the other casualties.
As the situation develops, authorities have stressed that swollen rivers and ravines continue to pose risks. The full toll may yet change as assessments continue.