Frontal system leaves 2 dead and 5 550 homes damaged or destroyed in Chile

A frontal system affecting central and southern Chile left two people dead, 1 399 affected, 156 in shelters and 536 isolated, according to the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED).

The agency reported 27 homes destroyed, 685 with major damage and 4 838 with minor damage, while another 1 052 remained under assessment.

Ten red alerts and 10 yellow alerts remained active nationwide, mainly because of rising rivers and overflow risks. The Directorate-General for Water reported eight monitoring stations above red thresholds and 19 above yellow thresholds on the morning of August 3.

Two people died in Panguipulli in the Los Ríos Region, after a tree fell onto their vehicle while they were travelling between Panguipulli and Licán Ray during strong winds associated with the frontal system, Senapred reported on August 2.

Emergency monitoring remained concentrated between Maule and La Araucanía, where field teams continued responding to elevated river flows and possible overflows.

SENAPRED issued 12 Emergency Alert System (SAE) messages on August 2, seven in Biobío, mainly for Nacimiento and Concepción, and five in La Araucanía for Angol and Traiguén.

The Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels reported 23 104 customers without electricity between the O’Higgins and Los Lagos regions at the time of the latest briefing.

Maule remained under a regional red alert, with additional red alerts for overflow hazards in sectors of Cauquenes and Parral. Constitución was among the affected municipalities after 36 mm (1.42 inches) of rain fell within one hour, activating secondary catchments.

SENAPRED separately reported three sinkholes in the Biobío Region. Flooding and overflows affected Arauco, Cañete, Curanilahue, Nacimiento, Quilleco, Santa Bárbara, Penco and Coronel.

The Andalién River remained above its banks, although its level was decreasing at the time of the briefing. In La Araucanía, preventive street closures remained in place in Angol because of overflowing waterways.

SENAPRED deployed 90 volunteer firefighters to assist evacuation operations in Angol with 50 more being deployed later. Army personnel also joined the response.

The agency’s latest count of 536 isolated people was lower than the 6 183 reported in its previous video briefing. SENAPRED did not explain the revision in the latest update.

SENAPRED urged residents near riverbanks, ravines and mountain areas to follow official information, take additional precautions and evacuate immediately upon receiving an SAE warning of imminent danger.