While the Northern Hemisphere swelters in heatwaves, Argentina and Chile, which are experiencing winter in the Southern Hemisphere, are seeing unprecedented disruptions as heavy snow and strong winds have kept a major international highway closed for 27 days.

The Cristo Redentor pass, a vital overland trade route connecting Argentina and Chile, has been restricted since June 14 (local time), breaking the record for the longest closure in history, local newspapers Clarin and Ambito reported on the 10th.

The road serves as an international corridor linking Argentina's western province of Mendoza with central Chile, functioning as one of the primary freight transport routes connecting Mercosur (Southern Common Market) and Chile.

This closure has surpassed the previous record of 26 days set during the winter of 2023.

Currently, about 2,000 trucks are reportedly stranded in the Mendoza region of Argentina, awaiting the reopening of the border.

Authorities from both countries have been conducting snow removal operations on roads leading to the international tunnel and working to clear the pathways, but travel restrictions remain in place as additional heavy snow and strong winds are forecast for the high-altitude areas.

Following a technical meeting on the 9th to review road conditions and weather forecasts, the border authorities of Argentina and Chile decided to maintain preventive traffic closure measures for all vehicles.

Authorities explained that safe conditions required for international vehicle traffic cannot be guaranteed at this time, given the possibility of further snowfall in the border region and fierce winds reaching speeds of 100 to 150 kilometers per hour.

The transport industry is strongly criticizing the authorities' response, stating that the prolonged travel ban is exacerbating logistics disruptions and economic losses.

The Association of Truck Owners of Mendoza (Aprocam) claimed that snow removal work is being delayed and that each truck is suffering an average loss of about 600 dollars (approx. 850,000 won) per day.

The transport industry asserted that a significant portion of snow removal equipment in the Uspallata area of Mendoza is not operating properly, and that machinery such as snowplows and bulldozers secured for international road management has been left idle.

They pointed out that even though some sections close to the border are clear with good road conditions, snow clearance on the sections leading to the international tunnel has not been properly carried out.

Although the Argentine government suggested using alternative border passes, the transport industry has pushed back, arguing that the alternative routes lack sufficient customs and logistics infrastructure to be a realistic option.

The Cristo Redentor pass was closed last month when up to 3 meters of snow accumulated around the border region during a heavy snowfall.

(Photo: Yonhap News)