Chile storm forecast to peak today; 3 dead, thousands without power

Chile faces the brunt of a powerful storm, with the national emergency office, Senapred, projecting the peak intensity between the O'Higgins and Coquimbo regions today. The system brings hurricane-force winds and heavy rains, impacting a significant portion of the country.

The storm's toll is mounting, with Senapred reporting three fatalities, seven injuries, and 79 individuals affected across the La Araucanía, Biobío, Ñuble, Maule, and O'Higgins regions. Additionally, 466 people are in shelters, and 158 remain isolated, primarily in Coquimbo.

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The temporal that affects the country maintains in alert to a large part of the territory this Friday, July 17, with Senapred confirming that the strongest intensity of the system - marked by hurricane-force winds and rains - will concentrate during today in the stretch between the regions of O'Higgins and Coquimbo.

Infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving around 300,000 customers without power, down from a high of 600,000. Educational institutions in the Atacama, Ñuble, Biobío, and La Araucanía regions have suspended classes. Critical zones include Mapocho, where irregular settlements are being evacuated; Penco/Lirquén, focusing on electricity restoration; and Quilpué, which experienced a mudslide alert overnight.

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The updated balance delivered by the director of Senapred, Alicia Cebrián, along with the Undersecretary of the Interior, Máximo Pavez, accounts for three deceased persons, seven injured, and 79 affected in the regions of La Araucanía, Biobío, Ñuble, Maule, and O'Higgins.