March 4, 2016 - CHILE - Dangerous and anomalous tidal waves are currently hitting the Chilean coast.
The ports of Iquique, Mejillones, Tocopilla, Chañaral, Hanga Roa, Quintero have been closed. Strong waves in Vina del Mare:
Fuertes marejadas reportadas hoy en ViñadelMar Chile, ordenan evacuación total imagen de @ExtraChile pic.twitter.com/zlcyVSggAn
— FAUSTO ADRIÁN (@fauadrian) March 3, 2016
Destruction in Mejillones:
Esta tarde embarcación menor es destruida por marejadas en #Mejillones. (Vídeo Nicole Navarro) pic.twitter.com/8whvPCKtCi
— Cristhian Acori A. (@CristhianAcori) March 3, 2016
Strong waves in Taltal:
Fuertes marejadas en #Taltal, como todo el verano. @radiomaderofm @ObreroDelMic @GustavoRoldan pic.twitter.com/RzEqpVR1IP
— Alvaro Roldán C. (@aRolasx) March 3, 2016
The dangerous situation is enhanced by strong wind blowing offshore
which could finally trigger giant and strong storm surges. Numbers of
major ports are now closed.
The giant waves are now already 4.5-meter (14.76 feet) high.
April 6, 2015 - ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE - Dramatic footage of cars, trucks and whole buildings being washed away in muddy water has emerged online after thunderstorms and abnormal rainfall in Chile’s desert Atacama region caused the Copiapo River to break its banks last week.
At least 25 people were killed and 125 others are missing as the floods ravaged the area known as one of the driest places on Earth.
WATCH: Freak rainfall and floods devastate the driest desert in Chile.
The authorities evacuated thousands from their homes in what was described as “the worst rain disaster to fall on the north [of Chile] in 80 years.”
About 2,700 people are currently being housed in emergency accommodation, with around 30,000 people affected by the disaster, the National Emergency Office said.
President Michelle Bachelet was forced to cancel a trip to an international summit to travel to flood-hit Atacama on Sunday.
"We stand with you, as we have from the beginning, and we will rebuild," Bachelet is cited by AFP. "It pains me to see my country in such a state ... we will find a solution."
The president also warned of high risk of disease outbreaks in the area, saying that government is sending thousands of doses of vaccines against flu, tetanus and hepatitis A.
The heavy rains in Chile came after several days of high temperatures and a drought that caused massive wildfires in the south-central regions. - RT.
Flooding caused by abnormally heavy rains cut roads, knocked out electricity and threatened several communities
in the usually bone-dry Atacama desert region this week.
April 3, 2015 - CHILE - The death toll from heavy rains and flooding that battered Chile last week has risen to 23, with another 57 still missing, and President Michelle Bachelet said on Wednesday she would cancel upcoming trips to lead ongoing reconstruction efforts.
The freak torrential downpours in the Atacama desert, normally
the driest in the world, destroyed homes and bridges, cut off roads, and
left thousands stranded as rivers broke their banks and flash floods
dramatically filled dry valleys.
Although the rains ceased by the end of last week, the clear-up
operation continues, with emergency office Onemi saying on Wednesday
around 4,000 people were still in temporary housing and a night-time
curfew remained in place for the worst affected areas, where looting has
been reported.
The Chilean air force said on Wednesday that it was looking for a
helicopter that had disappeared in the Copiapo area. It was not
immediately clear who was on board, although media reported that the
helicopter was privately owned and carrying out rescue operations.
Rescuers say it is highly probable that the death toll will rise
as more victims are found buried under tons of mud and rubble strewn
over the worst-hit areas in northern Chile.
Mines in Chile, the world's top copper exporter, have not reported any
serious damage, although blocked roads forced operations to halt at some
projects.
WATCH: Monumental deluge in Chile.
BACHELET REACTION
Center-left Bachelet has been keen to show she has learnt lessons after
her government came under heavy fire in 2010 for a perceived slow
response to a massive earthquake and tsunami.
"I have instructed the government to keep working non-stop until
people's lives have returned to normal," she said on Wednesday, adding
that she was cancelling international trips scheduled for next week.
She had planned to attend the Summit of the Americas, a gathering of
leaders from the Western Hemisphere, in Panama and visit Ecuador.
Chile was praised for its fast reaction to a quake in the north last year.
But the government has been criticized by some Chileans for a too-slow
response to the developing crisis after the floods. After a torrid month
of natural and political disasters, the president's popularity rating
has hit an all-time low. - Reuters.
Flood rescue in Copiapó. Photo: Carabineros de Chile
March 26, 2015 - CHILE - Floods in northern Chile have killed at least 2 people, with a further 24 still missing.
Torrential
rain and overflowing rivers have caused widespread flooding in the
normally dry regions of Atacama and Antofagasta, northern Chile. A state
of emergency has been called by the government in Chile for both
regions. The region of Coquimbo has also been affected by heavy rain and
floods. Further heavy rain is expected, particularly in Atacama.
The
latest assessments (as of 26 March 2015) indicate that 760 people are
homeless and 5,576 people are housed in 23 shelters that have been set
up in the affected areas.
35 homes have been completely destroyed,
142 have suffered major damage and 799 minor damage, according to the
latest government reports. Victims – Death Toll Increases
The
two deaths reported yesterday occurred in the coastal commune of
Chañaral in the Atacama Region. Wide areas of the town were under around
1.5 metres of water yesterday. UPDATE:
Two further deaths have since been reported by the government. The
deaths occurred in the town of Antofagasta in Antofagasta Region.
About
30 km away from Chañaral, the small village of El Salado has been
completely inundated after the Salado river overflowed, according to
local emergency services. At least 40 people had to be rescued from the
village.
Several other areas, in particular the commune of Taltal, have also been affected by the floods. Copiapó City
The
region’s capital city, Copiapo, has also seen major floods as a result
of the overflowing Copiapo river. Local observers said the streets were
turned to rivers. Copiapó River Dry for 17 Years
Such
massive rainfall is almost unknown in this desert area, more used to
drought than flood. Deputy Superintendent of the Fire Department of
Copiapo, José Codoceo said
that the river has been virtually dry for the last 17 years. The photo
below shows residents of Copiapó city on 24 March, waiting to see the
Copiapó river flow for the first time in years. Red Alerts
Red
alerts have been issued for the municipalities of Tocopilla, Taltal,
Alto de Carmen and Antofagasta province over the last 24 hours. Evacuations
Fear
of mudslides as well as floods prompted 1000s of evacuations. Rescue
and relief operations have been hampered by blocked roads. Chilean
military and rescue teams have used helicopters to carry out
evacuations.
Floods in Chanaral, Chile, March 2015. Photo: Cristhian Acori @ Twitter
Raging floods in El Salado, Chile, March 2015. Photo: Bomberos de Chile
In Atacama, over 400 houses have been damaged or
destroyed and around 2,000 families have been evacuated. Power outages
caused by the floods and rain in the 3 affected regions have left over
50,000 without electricity. Thousands have also been left without
drinking water. Missing People
There are currently at least 24 people missing in the floods. Google have set up a “Google Person Finder” for the floods here. Chile Fighting Disasters on Several Fronts
The
floods in the north came as southern Chile battled devastating
wildfires exacerbated by a severe drought. Earlier this month the
Villarrica volcano in southern Chile erupted, forcing more than 3,000
people from their homes. Peru’s Floods and Landslides
