Chile storm leaves 10 dead, 100,000 isolated, thousands homeless

Chile is grappling with the devastating aftermath of a powerful storm that has claimed at least ten lives and left more than 100,000 people isolated. The extreme weather, which began on July 15 in the south, has intensified in the northern regions of Coquimbo and Atacama, areas unaccustomed to such heavy rainfall. The government has declared a state of catastrophe, mobilizing the military to aid in rescue efforts.

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The emergency also left more than 2,200 homes destroyed or with structural damage, at least 2,400 displaced people and more than 100,000 people isolated.

As of Tuesday, the death toll had risen to ten, with four people reported missing and 17 injured, according to Alicia Cebrián, director of the National Emergency Service (Senapred). The storm has wreaked havoc on infrastructure, destroying or damaging over 2,200 homes and displacing at least 2,400 individuals. Road blockages due to swollen rivers and mud have cut off numerous towns, leaving over 100,000 residents stranded.

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Neighborhoods are full of mud, water, flooded, people have lost their homes, their belongings, people are in great distress.

In rural Coquimbo, the army has been using tractors and helicopters to rescue people trapped on their rooftops. "Neighborhoods are full of mud, water, flooded, people have lost their homes, their belongings, people are in great distress," said Cristóbal Juliá, governor of Coquimbo. He noted that while intense rains occurred in 1997, the current event "has far exceeded" what happened then.

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This time it far exceeded what happened then.

Interior Vice Minister Máximo Pavez described the rainfall as "abnormal and extreme," noting that an entire month's worth of rain fell in a single hour in some areas. Meteorologists confirm that Chile has not experienced such an extensive and rainy storm in decades. The state of catastrophe allows for military deployment, restrictions on movement, and expedited aid distribution.

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What usually rains in a month rained (on Sunday) in an hour, which leads to classifying this event as abnormal and extreme precipitation.