Two Dead in Chile as Violent Storm Causes Flooding

Central and southern Chile are reeling from a violent storm that has brought widespread flooding and claimed at least two lives, authorities confirmed Saturday. The severe weather prompted multiple evacuation orders and alerts across several regions, underscoring the dangerous conditions.

The fatalities occurred in Los Rios, in the country's south, where two individuals died after a tree fell onto their vehicle, according to Deputy Interior Minister Maximo Pavez. The storm injured nearly 350 people and damaged property, while over 2,000 individuals were stranded, primarily due to overflowing rivers, the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response reported.

The disaster agency issued 13 evacuation alerts, citing the threats posed by flooding and winds that exceeded 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour). Municipalities in the Maule and Los Lagos regions were also placed on alert. This latest event follows a similarly destructive storm in July, which resulted in 13 deaths and damage to at least 4,000 homes, highlighting a pattern of severe weather impacting the South American nation.

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Two people in Los Rios in the country's south were killed "after a tree fell on their vehicle."