Storm that swept almost all of Chile: consequences and the country's response

Coverage and strength of the storm

On Thursday a unusually powerful atmospheric front formed over Chile. Winds reached about 160 km/h, and precipitation ranged from light drizzle to downpours comparable to heavy tropical rains. The front slid from the desert Atacama in the north to the wet lowlands of Araucanía in the south, affecting 10 of the 16 administrative regions.

Victims and damage

The tragedy has already claimed several lives. One of the dead was a worker trying to clear a road in a southern town, another a person who fell from a roof while cleaning, the third a victim of an electric shock in the capital. Seven people suffered injuries of varying severity. Officials estimate that more than 800 houses were damaged, and in some areas roofs collapsed completely.

Power outages

The electricity network took a particularly hard hit. At the peak of the outages almost 660 000 customers were left without power; by evening the number fell to roughly 500 000, and the next day to about 400 000. Half a million homes were in the dark, with the regions of Araucanía, Biobío, Valparaíso and the capital district hit hardest. Companies Enel and CGE had already activated emergency plans, calling the approaching front a “atypical rain.”

Transport problems

Strong winds and heavy rain caused trees to fall and roads to flood. Dozens of routes, including mountain passes in the capital region, became impassable. A key border crossing toward Argentina was also closed because of flooding. In Coquimbo a construction crane toppled, damaging several houses and cars.

Government response

President José Antonio Kast personally visited the hard‑hit Biobío region, one of the areas with the greatest damage. He stressed that the country has already bolstered its response system after past disasters, but warned that the bad weather will linger for several more days. Forecasts put the peak of rainfall on Friday, when central Chile, including Santiago, was expected to see the heaviest rains – up to 150 mm.

Context: winter storms in Chile

In the Southern Hemisphere it is winter now, and such fronts appear almost every season. This storm, however, stands out because it covered almost the entire country, from desert plains to rainy southern valleys, and brought stronger winds than the typical winter storms of 2023, which were confined to the central belt.

What’s next?

Regions that have only recently been dealing with massive forest fires now have to fight floods at the same time. That double pressure on infrastructure and rescue services highlights the growing extremeness of Chile’s climate. In the coming days work is expected to continue on restoring power grids, clearing roads and providing temporary housing for those cut off from the outside world, especially in Coquimbo.

How travelers can prepare

If your itinerary runs through Chile in winter, keep an eye on the weather forecast and local authority advisories. Plan alternative routes, factor in possible road delays and temporary power cuts. When needed, carry spare communication devices and information about the nearest shelters.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.