Massive mudslide hits Villa Santa Lucía in southern Chile, leaving 3 dead, 15 missing
Featured image: Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile - December 16, 2017. Credit: Min. Obras Publicas
A massive mudslide tore through a small town of Villa Santa Lucía, Palena Province of Los Lagos Region in southern Chile on Saturday, December 16, 2017, burying a vast swath of the town under mud and debris. At least 3 people have been killed and 15 are missing, as of late Saturday.
The mudslide hit the remote town around 11:30 UTC (08:30 local time) Saturday, after 122 mm (4.8 inches) of rain within 24 hours.
It destroyed several homes and roadways, one school and a voting center, authorities said. The slide also damaged approximately 20 houses and started an undetermined number of structural fires.
There are 3 confirmed deaths, two Chilean women and a male tourist of unknown nationality. At least 3 people were injured and 15 others are still missing.
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Credit: Min. Obras Publicas
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Credit: Sernageomin
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Credit: Min. Obras Publicas
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Credit: Min. Obras Publicas
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Credit: Min. Obras Publicas
Villa Santa Lucía mudslide, Chile – December 16, 2017. Estimated origin and flow projection. Credit: Sernageomin
The Chilean Meteorological Directorate said more rain is expected across the province until midnight (local time) and up to 5 cm (2 inches) of snow overnight at higher elevations where temperatures are expected to drop to 0 °C (32 °F).
A Red Alert is in effect for the entire province.
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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