Three women died when a raft capsized on the Maipo River, a popular rafting river near Santiago, Chile, on Sunday.
Key Facts
- Who. Three women died; reports differ on how many others were aboard.
- What. A raft capsized on the Maipo River in a popular rafting canyon.
- Where. San Alfonso sector, San José de Maipo, a mountain municipality southeast of Santiago.
- When. Sunday 1 November 2026, at about 14:30 Chile time.
- As of 1 November 2026, 21:00 GMT. Figures were still changing.
A raft capsized on the Maipo River in Chile on Sunday 1 November 2026, and three women died. It happened at about 14:30 local time in the San Alfonso sector of San José de Maipo, a mountain municipality southeast of Santiago.
The Cajón del Maipo is a river canyon near the capital that is known for whitewater rafting and adventure tourism. Visitors from abroad can book such trips from Santiago, so the questions raised here are practical ones.
What We Know
The alert came through the emergency number 133. Police, firefighters, emergency medical staff and municipal safety teams went to the river.
Three women died, and their names and ages have not been released. Their bodies were found in several sectors of the river valley, including San Alfonso, El Melocotón and Cascada de las Ánimas.
Roberto Pérez, the mayor of San José de Maipo, confirmed the three deaths. The municipality promised further updates as information is confirmed.
Reports differ on how many people were on the raft. Early accounts gave figures from at least seven to 12 people, and a later report said 13.
Early afternoon reports said two people were missing and that search teams were working near the Las Vertientes bridge in strong currents. A later report said ten people had been rescued, and eight of them were taken to the hospital in San José de Maipo.
The Asociación de Empresas de Rafting del Cajón del Maipo, the local rafting companies' association, said the boat was not operated by any of its member companies, but by private individuals. It said registered member firms were helping with the rescue and described river conditions as “normal and safe”.
No cause has been confirmed. Police, including Chile's investigative police (PDI), are looking into the capsizing.
What Is Not Known
The exact number of people aboard, rescued and missing is not settled. Counts shifted through the afternoon and may change again.
The names, ages and nationalities of the three women have not been released. Published accounts do not say whether any foreign visitors were involved.
The cause has not been confirmed by investigators. Early reports offered no official explanation.
It is unclear who owned the raft and what safety equipment was on board. Those details have not been made public.
No one has been publicly named as responsible. Until investigators report, the cause and any responsibility stay open.
What It Means for Travelers and US Readers
The rafting association says the boat was run by private individuals and not by one of its member companies. That is the association's account, and the owners have not been identified.
What follows is general advice and not a finding about this accident. Before booking a river trip, check that the operator is a registered company and that its guides are trained.
Ask whether every passenger gets a life jacket and a helmet. Ask too whether a safety briefing is given before launch and how many people the raft is meant to carry.
Trained guides and proper equipment matter on every river trip. A calm start does not remove the need for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Maipo River?
A raft capsized on Sunday 1 November 2026 in the San Alfonso sector of San José de Maipo, southeast of Santiago, Chile. Three women died, and officials were still confirming how many others were aboard and rescued.
Why did the raft capsize?
The cause is not confirmed. Police are looking into the capsizing, and no official explanation has been published.
Was a registered rafting company involved?
The local rafting companies' association says the boat was not operated by any member company but by private individuals.
Have the victims been identified?
Not publicly. The names, ages and nationalities of the three women have not been released.
Sources
Statements by the mayor of San José de Maipo and the local rafting companies' association, as reported by Chilean outlets: La Tercera · BioBioChile · Emol · T13 · Cooperativa
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