Breaking: Chile
Chile’s weather service has preliminarily rated the Requínoa tornado EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, and the disaster agency Senapred declared a red alert.
A tornado tore through central Chile late on Monday afternoon, leaving damaged homes, a damaged school and power cuts behind. The Requínoa tornado struck at about 5:30 p.m. local time (about 20:30 GMT) on Monday 26 October 2026.
Requínoa is a commune, the Chilean word for municipality, in the agricultural O’Higgins Region. The storm struck between Requínoa and the neighbouring town of Rengo.
Tornadoes are uncommon in Chile. It matters to US readers who travel to central Chile’s farming country, and who already know the EF scale from home.
Key Facts
- Rating. Preliminary EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds of 179–218 km/h (111–135 mph).
- Damage. At least 20 homes and one school damaged; the figure is preliminary and under evaluation.
- Alert. Red alert, the highest level, declared for Requínoa; power cuts reported; no injuries reported at the time of writing.
- Status. As of 26 October 2026, 22:30 GMT
What We Know
Chile’s weather service, the Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (DMC), classified the tornado preliminarily as EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The scale runs from EF-0 to EF-5, and EF-2 is rated as considerable damage.
The DMC puts the winds at 179–218 km/h (111–135 mph). Because the rating is preliminary, those figures could still be revised.
EF-2 sits in the middle of the scale, above the weakest ratings and well below the most violent. US readers will know it as the level at which roofs can be torn from homes.
Senapred, Chile’s national disaster-prevention agency, declared a red alert for Requínoa, its highest alert level. More than 7,000 customers lost power, according to the first reports.
No injuries had been reported at the time of writing. The tornado came on a day of rain and thunderstorms in central Chile.
At least 20 homes were damaged, and one school was also hit. Senapred described its damage figures as still very preliminary and under evaluation.
What Is Not Known
The final number of damaged homes is not yet known. Nor is the full extent of the damage to the school.
It is also unclear whether anyone was hurt later, since the no-injury report applies only to the time of reporting. It is not known when power will return, or whether classes are suspended.
The preliminary rating could still be adjusted once experts have surveyed the damage on the ground. The count of damaged homes could also change as teams visit more properties.
It is not known when all customers will have power again, or how long train and road services will be disrupted.Whether more storms are due in the area is not yet clear.
That matters for repair work and for road travel.No cost estimate is available yet.
Further assessments by Senapred and the DMC should clarify these points.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
Visitors to central Chile’s farming country should check Senapred and DMC updates before they travel. The red alert was declared for Requínoa, a single commune.
Expect possible road and power disruption near the affected area. Rain and thunderstorms have also affected central Chile.
Anyone with bookings near Requínoa or Rengo can ask their hotel or tour operator about local conditions. Local authorities remain the best guide to which roads and services are working.
Our Chile coverage and wider Latin America coverage follow the story. The picture should become clearer as Senapred completes its damage assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EF-2 tornado?
The Enhanced Fujita scale rates tornadoes from EF-0 to EF-5 by the damage they cause. EF-2 is classed as considerable damage, with winds of 111–135 mph.
Was anyone hurt in the Requínoa tornado?
No injuries had been reported at the time of writing, and assessments are continuing.
How many homes were damaged?
At least 20 homes and one school were damaged. Senapred, Chile’s national disaster-prevention agency, calls the figures preliminary and under evaluation.
Where did the Chile tornado strike?
It struck the commune of Requínoa, in the agricultural O’Higgins Region of central Chile, between the towns of Requínoa and Rengo.
Published Monday 26 October 2026 · Source: Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (DMC), Senapred
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief