Severe Storms Strike Chile with 100 km/h Winds and Argentina with Record Snowfall

Severe storms in south-central Chile and record-breaking heavy snow in the western Andean mountainous region of Argentina have caused a continuous wave of casualties and property damage.

Citing announcements by Chilean authorities, Argentine media outlet Infobae reported on the 2nd (local time) that torrential rains and gusts exceeding 100 km/h struck the south-central region, leaving at least two people dead and hundreds displaced.

The victims lost their lives when trees fell on top of their vehicles.

According to Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred), 347 people have been displaced and 2,052 residents remain isolated so far.

As river overflows, landslides, and flooding continued, authorities issued red alerts for multiple regions and sent emergency text messages to guide urgent evacuations.

Eleven homes were completely destroyed, more than 100 were heavily damaged, and about 1,000 suffered partial damage.

Nationwide, approximately 156,000 households have suffered power outages, and hundreds of residents remain isolated in some areas due to overflowing rivers.

In Argentina, heavy snow and blizzards hit the Andean mountainous region of Mendoza Province, bordering Chile, prompting the emergency evacuation of some 200 tourists.

Emergency response teams and the gendarmerie moved tourists from Puente del Inca to nearby Penitentes, and some received treatment for hypothermia, low blood pressure, and anxiety symptoms.

Argentine authorities explained that they immediately activated emergency protocols given the recent series of tourist isolation accidents in the mountainous region.

Due to continuous heavy snow in Mendoza since mid-July, more than 300 people have been evacuated from the mountainous area so far, and the Cristo Redentor International Pass connecting Argentina and Chile remains closed.

With cross-border travel blocked, hundreds of trucks are detouring through other border routes, but it is reported that entering Chile takes up to four days.

The Argentine meteorological agency forecasted that weather conditions will improve after the middle of next week, allowing the international pass to resume operations.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.