The heavy rainfall impacting central-south Chile has resulted in three deaths and isolated over 34,000 individuals during the Southern Hemisphere winter, as stated by the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security and the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response.
During a press conference, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá disclosed, “We have 4,288 affected individuals, 854 in shelters, 34,176 isolated, 32,728 evacuated, and the tragic death of three individuals.”
She provided an update on the devastation from the Valparaíso to Biobío regions after a daily meeting of the National Committee for Disaster Risk Management.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Tohá commented on the extensive damages affecting numerous Chilean citizens.
Additionally, power outages impacted 120,000 households, primarily in the O’Higgins, Maule, and Metropolitan regions.
The Ministry of Education reported that 357 educational facilities were hit by the rains, with 10 suffering significant damage.
As a result, classes in 67 municipalities were suspended, affecting approximately 60,000 students and 8,000 preschoolers.
Amidst the inclement weather, Chile’s Meteorological Directorate (DMC) issued an alert for rainfall from the Santiago Metropolitan to Maule regions and a wind warning from the Coquimbo region southwards.