Frontal system: Fatalities rise to four, nearly 2,500 isolated

A severe frontal system battering Chile from north to south has claimed four lives and left nearly 2,500 people isolated, according to the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred).

Alicia Cebrián, director of Senapred, reported the latest figures, noting a recent fatality in the Valparaíso Region. The storm has caused significant damage, with six homes destroyed, 113 suffering major damage, and 951 with minor damage, while 525 are still under evaluation. Additionally, 99 people are reported as affected, 673 are sheltered, and seven are injured.

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We have four deceased people; unfortunately, a new person has been added in this last moment in the Valparaíso Region. It is a procedure that is underway, so once we have more information, we will be able to provide more data.

The widespread impact includes a massive power outage affecting 368,000 customers across several regions, from Atacama to La Araucanía. The Valparaíso Region is particularly hard-hit, with 194,000 customers lacking electricity. The isolation of 2,521 people, primarily in the Coquimbo Region, is due to swollen rivers and streams.

Emergency services are actively engaged in response and relief operations. Evacuations have been conducted, especially in precarious settlements, leading to a concentration of sheltered individuals in the Metropolitan Region. The ongoing nature of the situation means further updates are expected as assessments continue.

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Between the Coquimbo and La Araucanía stretch, we have 99 affected people, 673 people sheltered - the majority of them concentrated in the Metropolitan Region due to preventive evacuations in recent days from precarious settlements - 2,521 people isolated - concentrated in the Coquimbo Region due to the swelling of riverbeds and streams that create an isolation condition - and we have seven injured people.