At Least 10 Dead in Chile After Heavy Rains; Government Declares State of Disaster

▲ Heavy rain pours down in Santiago, Chile

At least 10 people have died and four are missing after torrential rains accompanied by strong winds struck Chile.

According to the local daily La Tercera and foreign media on July 21 (local time), the heavy rains that have been continuing since July 14 are causing widespread damage.

So far, 10 residents have died, four are missing, and 17 people have been injured.

Flooding and landslides have damaged approximately 2,100 homes.

With roads blocked by overflowing rivers, about 100,000 residents have been isolated, and there are approximately 2,400 displaced people.

In addition to flooding and road washouts, some regions have been hit by strong winds reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h, leading to a series of power and water outages.

As the heavy rains, linked to the El Niño phenomenon, continue, the government has declared a state of disaster.

President Jose Antonio Kast announced at a press conference at the disaster site on the afternoon of July 20, "As the situation in the Coquimbo and Huasco provinces becomes increasingly severe, I have ordered the declaration of a constitutional state of emergency."

He added, "Various factors such as wind, rain, snow, and high waves have combined to affect 10 provinces in different ways," explaining that "this heavy rain is highly unusual in terms of its intensity, scope, and duration."

Once a state of disaster is declared, the government can deploy military troops, restrict freedom of movement, and mobilize relief resources more rapidly.

The Chilean Meteorological Service stated that several areas in the Coquimbo region recorded between 155 and 287 mm of rainfall, a figure nearly double the total annual precipitation for those areas in 2025.

As the damage from the heavy rains continues, the government has ordered the closure of kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools across the Coquimbo region, as well as in parts of Atacama, Valparaiso, and the metropolitan area, for two days from July 21 to 22 as a safety measure.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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