Winter’s Blast: 7 Chilean Regions Declared Disaster Zones Due to Snowstorms and Flooding

A low-intensity tornado swept through central and southern Chile on Tuesday, causing the destruction of at least 11 homes and leaving more than 20 people isolated. The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service classified the tornado as an EF-0, with wind speeds ranging between 105 and 137 kilometers per hour. The Bío Bío region experienced the most significant damage, with several residences destroyed and trees, poles, and electricity cables falling, resulting in power outages.

The authorities issued alerts for new rain, winds, and other weather phenomena in various parts of the country where heavy rains have been falling continuously. Residents are concerned about the risk of further disasters as one resident of Bío Bío called for urgent help from the municipality as more rain was expected. President Gabriel Boric visited the affected region to assess the damage caused by recent storms that resulted in one death, four injuries, and thousands of people affected.

In Punta Arenas, in the extreme south of Chile, a loss of connectivity has been reported due to intense snowfall that dropped temperatures to six degrees Celsius below zero. With the suspension of all classes in the commune, the government has announced plans to mobilize additional resources to control the situation. Following a frontal system that moved through the country last week, Chile declared a disaster zone in seven out of its 16 regions due to extensive flooding, street closures, landslides