Chile Border Pass to Argentina Closed for 20 Days Due to Snow

Chile's primary border crossing with Argentina, the Libertadores International Pass, remains closed for a 20th consecutive day due to severe weather conditions. The closure, initiated on July 14, stems from heavy snowfall caused by a persistent storm system affecting the country.

This extended closure is the second longest in recent history, surpassed only by a 26-day shutdown in the austral winter of 2023. Ricardo Figueroa, the provincial presidential delegate for Los Andes, stated that conditions are not yet safe for reopening the vital passage. "The snow conditions do not allow us to open this important pass yet," he told Chilean media.

The pass, also known as Cristo Redentor Pass, has accumulated approximately 6.6 meters of snow. Compounding the issue are power outages and meteorological forecasts predicting further snowfall, which hinder ongoing snow-clearing operations. This strategic corridor is crucial for supply, foreign trade, investment, and employment between Chile and Argentina.

Chile is currently experiencing another frontal system in its central-south region, which has already caused two deaths and significant disruptions. This follows an intense storm in recent weeks that impacted ten of the country's 16 regions, resulting in 13 fatalities and over 3,000 displaced individuals. The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) has issued ten red and ten yellow alerts nationwide, primarily due to river overflows and rising water levels, leading to mass evacuations in affected areas.

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The snow conditions do not allow us to open this important pass yet.